Turkey- Botswana trade figures ‘ promising’ - Buyukkarakas
Ataround US$ 3 million in 2019, bilateral trade figures between Turkey and Botswana are still far below their real potential, contends Meltem Buyukkarakas, the Ambassador of Turkey to Botswana.
Speaking in an interview with Botswana Guardian Monday in Gaborone ahead of their 97th National Day ( October 29th), the Turkish envoy said it is however promising to see a “growing interest” from the business circles of both countries for partnerships.
She said that Botswana authorities are expecting more investments from Turkey, but lamented that Turkish investors are “not yet fully aware” of the opportunities in Botswana.
“We are encouraging them for further engagement with their counterparts in Botswana. We need to increase awareness on both sides and open more direct channels at the institutional level,” she said referring to efforts that should be spearheaded by Botswana Investment and Trade Centre ( BITC), the local chamber of commerce, Business Botswana ( BB) as well as Botswana Exporters and Manufacturers Association ( BEMA) and their Turkish counterparts, Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey and the Turkish Development Agency – TIKA.
Buyukkarakas believes that establishing “direct links” between the private sectors of both countries in the form of a Business Council would also be helpful in increasing “such mutually beneficial projects and partnerships”. Buyukkarakas is emboldened in this belief by the fact that the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey currently operates Business Councils with their counterparts in 47 African countries ( with the exclusion of Botswana) with a view to promote trade and investment relations.
Sadly neither BB nor BEMA has struck any such partnership yet. BEMA chief executive Lolo Sankoloba told Botswana Guardian her association would love to do business with Turkey’s private sector if the opportunity presents itself.
The Turkish envoy further believes that Botswana Government’s efforts to diversify economy and further improve the environment for doing business will “definitely provide new opportunities” for Turkish business people.
Already there is potential of cooperation in various areas such as agriculture, tourism, health, manufacturing, ICT, energy, coal mining, textile and clothing industry and construction sectors.
Turkish construction sector ranks second in the world after China, said the envoy. Turkish contractors have successfully completed mega projects in many African countries and are said to be experienced in Public- Private Partnership ( PPC) or Build- Operate- Transfer ( BOT) models. “They are reliable, long term solution partners for the countries that have operations,” she said.
Buyukkarakas is confident that some encouraging business initiatives of Turkish entrepreneurs exist in Botswana. For example, she cited the diesel Power Station in Orapa, which was constructed by a Turkish energy company and is still being operated by Turkish engineers. Also a high quality Turkish men’s fashion brand “D’S Damat” opened a store in Phakalane in 2017, ostensibly as the first in southern Africa with plans to expand to South Africa. She also mentioned the few Turkish entrepreneurs who operate their small private companies in safari tourism and construction works in Botswana. Additionally in 2019, a medical oxygen facility in Ghanzi Hospital by a Turkish- Botswana partnership started producing medical oxygen for the hospital using Turkish machinery.
“This helps the hospital to reduce import and transportation costs for this life- saving medical component. These are promising examples and we hope to multiply such projects in the future,” she enthused.
Turkey is also looking forward to holding the second meeting of Joint Economic Commission meeting between Turkey and Botswana, soon. This mechanism was first established in 2012 during a visit by then foreign minister Phandu Skelemani to Turkey. Plans had been made to convene it in Botswana earlier this year, with a Ministerial level visit from Turkey to Botswana but had to be postponed due to the COVID- 19 pandemic conditions. “Now we are preparing to hold this meeting virtually before the end of this year,” she said indicating that they should take more advantage of online platforms during this time of the pandemic. Turkey has also proposed to sign a Memorandum of Understanding ( MoU) for cooperation in empowering Small and Medium Size Enterprises between the relevant institutions of Turkey and Botswana. This is in recognition of the fact that SMMEs are the backbone of economic growth and diversification and Turkey is “ready to cooperate” with Botswana and “share its experience” in this context, she said.
The envoy indicated that Turkish tourists usually visit Botswana as part of package tours that combine a few countries in the region. She said that despite the geographic distance between the two countries, around 600 to 800 Turkish tourists visited Botswana every year before COVID- 19.
She said although the numbers are not high, they are slightly increasing on an annual basis which shows growing awareness and interest. She expressed confidence that with a “targeted strategy and a strong promotional campaign” that includes travel operators, more tourists from Turkey would have the opportunity to visit Botswana in future.
Turkey has also been one of the top tourism destinations for many years with its historical and cultural heritage sites, wonderful beaches, and unique natural sites like Cappadocia.
Before the pandemic, around 50 billion tourists visited Turkey last year, she said, adding that health tourism is also on the rise as many people want to access the country’s high standard hospitals for treatments such as bone marrow transplant. She expressed hope that tourism between Turkey and Botswana “will increase in the coming years” in both direction and cooperation following a recovery of the tourism sector from the negative effects of COVID- 19 pandemic.
She has already discussed with Botswana’s Tourism Minister, possibilities of cooperation in diversifying tourism attractions in Botswana. “Turkey is ready to share its experience in tourism and hospitality sector including safe tourism practices”. Turkey is also an active strategic partner of the African Union ( AU) since 2008. According to Buyukkarakas, Turkey shares historical and humanitarian ties with Africa. “Our policy focuses on equality, shared prosperity and mutual benefit, and a win- win approach,” she said, indicating that Turkey’s approach to Africa is not a donor- recipient one. “Our approach lies on the principles of sincerity, brotherhood and solidarity. We want to move forward and grow together,” she said emphasising that Turkey has never had any imperialistic desires for the continent. Buyukkarakas explained that Turkey has made progress in strengthening its institutional presence on the ground in Africa. The country is currently represented with 42 Embassies in the continent while Turkish development agency- TIKA- has 22 offices and Turkish Maarif ( Education) Foundation operates around 150 education institutions in Africa.
Furthermore, Turkish Airlines used to fly to 58 destinations in 39 countries in Africa before the pandemic. They are now gradually resuming international flights to these destinations, currently 33 destinations in 27 countries, she intimated.
Buyukkarakas attributed this rapid development to a strong mutual political will exhibited by President Tayyip Erdoğan who attaches great importance to Turkey’s relations with Africa as a whole. “We wish to contribute to the economic transformation, sustainable development and improvement of security environment of the continent,” she said. Two Turkey- Africa Partnership Summits and Turkey- Africa Economy and Business Forums have been held so far. “We look forward to organising the third Summit and the third Business Forum next year in Turkey ( hopefully in April)”.
She said that for the third Summit, they are working on an Action Plan with the African Union, which includes feasible projects such as training programmes specifically aiming at empowering women and the youth. All member states will benefit from these projects, she said, emphasising that they try hard to include as many aspirations of Agenda 2063 as possible in their action plan.