Turkey keen to boost ties with Zim
TURKEY is keen to boost bilateral relations with Zimbabwe by striking new deals in various economic sectors, especially energy and power development, Turkey Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Hakan Kivanc has said.
Speaking after meeting Energy and Power Development Minister Simon Khaya Moyo, who is also the acting Minister of Information, Media and Broadcasting Services, Ambassador Kivanc said he was exploring other possible areas of cooperation.
“We have touched upon several subjects from energy to our excel- lent relations. We are looking at extending these excellent relations to trade, especially in the areas of energy and other areas like information, cooperation between the media agencies,” he said.
“We have also touched upon some educational matters like cooperation of higher education institutions. These are some of our future plans.
“Engagement will be at a later stage, first of all we are exploring what we can do,” he said.
Ambassador Kivanc said the two countries have to find common areas of interest such as solar energy as both countries experience the sun 360 days a year.
He said the two countries should make use of the God-given source of energy.
“In the education sector, we have to cooperate. There are lots of Zimbabwean students in Turkey and for the future, we would like to do whatever we can do, including giving scholarships.
“We want our agencies, television and radio to partner each other. We would like to establish relations which would be everlasting,” he said.
Ambassador Khaya Moyo, who is also acting Foreign Affairs Minister said he had a fruitful discussion with Ambassador Kivanc.
“We had a fruitful discussion where we touched on a number on a number of areas of our relations which are excellent and cordial. We enjoy that cordiality,” he said.
According to the Turkish Statistical Institute, Turkey’s exports to Africa have tripled in the last five years compared to its worldwide export volume, with exports - to African nations increasing by 20,5 percent between 2011 and 2015.
The country has been seeking to expand its economic presence in Africa after adopting its African Expansion Plan in 1998.