Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has stated that they aim to increase Turkey's trade volume with Africa to $50 billion by the year of 2015.
Turkish PM Erdogan addressed Turkish and Gabonese businessmen at a forum held in Cite de la Democratie, a neighborhood in Libreville, Gabon on Sunday.
Erdogan said that he held his first abroad trip to Gabon in 2013 and added, "This marks that our relations will be carried a step forward."
Erdogan underlined that as a government, their aim was to form a legal infrastructure for entrepreneurs and encourage investments.
He added that for that purpose, they pay attention for economic agreements to be signed and become applicable as soon as possible.
He stressed that the global economic recession during 2007-2010 influenced the trade between Turkey and Gabon and decreased figures. However, he noted that in 2011, trade between Turkey and Gabon started to develop and said, "In the first 11 months of 2012, the trade volume was $41 million. When December's figures come in, we can say that 2012's figures will be over 2007's."
He expressed that they do not see those figures enough and said, "We all know that the potentials of both countries are way more. In this new period, we will work harder and improve our cooperation in every field of work. Hopefully, we will increase these figures soon."
He added that after his visit, a business council will be set up between Turkey and Gabon and said, "We attach importance to the formation of business council. In Africa, we have set up 16 business councils."
Alongside Erdogan, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag and Turkish Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan attended the meeting as well.
