Turkish leaders hopes for improved trade with Zambia

By NATION REPORTER. THE trade volume between Zambia and Turkey can surpass the current figure of US$22 Million, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has said.

In a statement issued to the Daily Nation by First Press Secretary at the Zambian embassy in Turkey, Jerry Munthali, President Erdogan said there was need to strengthen bilateral and trade relations between the two countries.

Mr Erdogan noted that the combined population of the two countries was big enough to improve their economic potential and trade volume.

“In Zambia you have a population of around 17 million people and here we have 80 million and together this makes a population of 90 million people. Our economic potential and trade volume should be much higher,” President Erdogan said.

He reaffirmed his country’s commitment to continue supporting development in Zambia.

Mr Erdogan said he was happy that President Edgar Lungu was in attendance during his inauguration ceremony as the first Turkish President under the new presidential system of Government.

He was speaking when he received credentials from Zambia’s ambassador to that country, Mr Joseph Chilengi.

And Mr Chilengi said it was Zambia’s desire to take the existing cordial relations between the two countries to a higher level.

He said Zambia appreciated Turkey’s technical assistance in various sectors such as tourism, health, agriculture and media.