Turkey furniture makers eye Zambia

TWO private sector associations in Turkey’s furniture manufacturing hub of Kayseri have expressed interest to establish a structured framework of interaction with the Zambian private sector to help boost the trade between Zambia and Turkey.

The trade volume between the two countries currently stands at about US$18 million.

This came to light yesterday during trade and investment promotion meetings between the Zambian Mission in Turkey with the Kayseri Organised Industrial Zone and the 1, 700 member- Kayseri Chamber of Industry.

During interaction, Kayseri Organised Industrial Zone Vice- President, Tahir Nursacan, said his organisation was determined to help boost the trade volume between Zambia and Turkey as directed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Zambia counterpart, President Edgar Lungu.

Mr Nursacan said this could only be achieved through increased interaction and partnership between the private sectors of the two countries.

Meanwhile, Kayseri Chamber of Industry President Mehmet Buyuksimitci said the City of Kayseri only, contributed exports worth about US$3 million to Zambia in 2018.

He said furniture and household electrical appliances were then main products exported from Kayseri to Zambia.

Mr Buyuksimitci was hopeful that the City of Kayseri would contribute to the existing warm bilateral relations between Zambia and Turkey through increased partnership with the Zambian private sector.

He called for reciprocal business missions between the two countries.

In his presentation, Zambia’s Ambassador to Turkey, Joseph Chilengi said as acknowledged by the two Heads of State, trade volume between Zambia and Turkey did not reflect the potential of the two countries.

He called for more interaction between the private sectors of the two countries.