ISTANBUL
Central African Republic (CAR) Prime Minister Andre Nzapayeke on Monday called on Turkey to help develop his country’s infrastructure.
Speaking during a visit to Turkey’s Foreign Economics Relations Board (DEIK), Nzapayeke said: "We have only 25,000km of roads. Our country's petroleum resources are as yet untapped. We have capacity for 18 megawatts of hydroelectricity, mostly around Bangui, and experience 16 hours a day of electrical outages.
"Drinking water access for the whole country is at only 30 percent. We need access to the oceans, most particularly ports."
Last week’s African Energy Forum heard of the poor access to energy throughout sub-Saharan Africa despite substantial oil, gas and uranium reserves.
Nzapayeke emphasized the role the Turkish private sector could play in helping CAR develop its infrastructure.
The CAR has been disrupted recently by civil war between ‘anti-Balaka’ Christian militias and mostly Muslim ‘Seleka’ groups.
Nzapayeke said: “Our country has been shaken with agony. The government has been seeking solutions for these clashes. Our country is living through difficult times but despite everything we are close to positive developments.”
The CAR has a population of 4.5 million and desperately needs investment in agriculture and industry.
DEIK Vice Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu said: “Turkey gives great importance to the African continent. We do not see Africa as a conflict zone but as an area to which humanity owes a great debt."
The volume of trade between Turkey and Africa has risen from $4 billion annually in 2000 to $20 billion dollars at the end of last year, a rise explained by mutual cooperation and benefit, Zeytinoğlu added. Turkey has established bilateral business councils with more than half of Africa's countries.
Bekir Uysal, Turkey's ambassador to the CAR's neighbor the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), said Turkey closely followed events in the CAR.
He said: “We give much importance to the region's stability… We are committed to the establishment of security. If the Central African Republic gains stability, the entire African continent will benefit. "
Uysal added: "Central Africa offers foreign investors facilities not to be underestimated. We are talking about rare and strategically important elements: gold, diamonds, other precious metals as well as uranium, which holds an important place in in world politics.
“We believe that, as the Republic of Turkey, we should follow all these matters closely.”
www.aa.com.tr/en
