Africapractice (London)
31 March 2011
press release
On March 24 and 25, 2011 President Ali Bongo Ondimba received the Turkish President Abdullah Gül in Libreville to strengthen existing ties between the two countries.
Several areas of cooperation
A total of seven conventions were signed on March 25 between the two Heads of State on cooperation in tourism, diplomatic consultations, non-double taxation and tax evasion, mutual promotion and protection of investments, visa exemptions for diplomatic passport holders, defense and health. Four other agreements are currently under negotiation. They relate to projects on maritime cooperation, free trade, agricultural cooperation and cooperation in air transport. In the field of education, a number of scholarships to Turkish universities were granted to Gabonese students.
“Gabon is one of the countries with the greatest economic potential in Africa, as well as having strong leadership in President Ali Bongo Ondimba. The agreements signed together today come as a result of our political will to create win-win partnerships between our two countries”, Turkish President Abdullah Gül declared at a joint press conference with Gabonese President Ali Bongo Ondimba following the signing of the conventions.
The signing of these various conventions consolidates the general agreement on commercial, economic, cultural and technical cooperation signed in Libreville in September 2000 by Ali Bongo Ondimba, Defence Minister at the time.
Strengthening economic ties
A Gabon-Turkey economic forum jointly organised by the Ministry of the Economy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry was held parallel to these meetings at the Cité de la Démocratie in Libreville. Over 300 participants attended conferences on investment opportunities in Gabon and in Turkey. This forum provided an opportunity for businessmen and women from the two countries to meet potential new partners.
Notable participants in the forum included TUSKON, a Turkish business confederation which brings together the 120 most important small and medium enterprises in Turkey, and ENKA, a Turkish business involved in the construction of industrial sites, infrastructure and buildings, which has been diversifying its activities in the world since 1980. In 2010 the company employed more than 10,285 employees in the world and had turnover of 4.7 billion USD.
The organization of this economic forum between Gabon and Turkey is tied both to a deepening Turkish presence in Africa – trade flows between Turkey and African countries have grown continually in recent years, reaching 30 billion USD in 2010 – as well as the policies of opening-up the country and diversifying partnerships that President Ali Bongo Ondimba has implemented since being elected in 2009.
“Gabon’s wish is to establish a very strong and close relationship with Turkey. Turkey’s dynamism and the expertise of its businessmen and women will be positive in helping us in achieving the status of an emerging economic power. Before becoming the prosperous and developed country it is today, Turkey had an emerging economy. So we are persuaded that our collaboration will be highly instructive. We hope now to establish partnerships that will be beneficial to both our countries,” Gabon’s Head of State added at the press conference.
These policies bore their fruit with over 4 billion USD in foreign investment in 2010 through contracts signed with business groups from Asia, the US and France in the infrastructure, agriculture and wood sectors. Gabon’s economy grew 6% in 2010, after it had contracted by 1.4% in 2009.
Further meetings ahead
In order to continue these talks, further meetings have been planned between the two countries. During 2011 President Ali Bongo Ondimba will make an official visit to Turkey and Gabon’s Defence Minister will attend the International Defence Industry Fair from May 10-13, 2011 in Turkey.
Finally, a ministerial meeting will be held to prepare the 8th Turkey-Africa summit in 2013.
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Nation and Turkey Strengthen Cooperation and Commercial Ties