Turkish Foreign Minister Highlights Importance Of African Continent

ISTANBUL - Turkish Foreign Minister Ali Babacan has said that people would become more aware of the importance of Africa and businessmen would show great interest in the continent in the years ahead.
Addressing participants of the 3rd Summit "Turkey-Africa: Foreign Trade Bridge" hosted by the Confederation of Businessmen & Industrialists of Turkey (TUSKON) in Istanbul, Babacan said, "we attach great importance to our relations with the African countries. Fifty-four African nations have a great potential. Turkey is aware of this potential and targets to improve its relations with all of African countries on the basis of friendship."
"Turkey`s commercial relations with the African countries have gained a new dynamism recently and our trade volume reached 12.8 billion USD in the aggregate. Turkey`s investments in the continent reached 500 million USD," he said.
Babacan said that Turkey would host the first Turkey-Africa Summit this year and bring together heads of state and government of fifty-four African nations.
(UK-MS)