Turkey is increasing its strategic partnership with the African continent alongside China and India, Turkey's EU Minister said Wednesday.
"We have increased the total number of our envoys in Africa to 35 from 12. Turkish Airlines only had flights to South Africa before; now it travels to 38 different destinations on the continent," Mevlut Cavusoglu said at the Turkey - Gambia Business Forum in Istanbul.
After meeting Gambian Minister of Trade, Industry, Regional Integration and Employment Abdou Kolley, he stressed the need to increase the total trade volume from US$35 million, a figure "way below the two countries' potential."
Abdou Kolley urged businessmen to invest in Gambia as a gateway to Africa by saying, "Gambia is a rich country in terms of oil and minerals. We are ready to support Turkey in that area."
A memorandum of understanding to build a 30-megawatt solar energy complex was signed between Turkish construction company Erenport and Gambia's Regional Integration and Employment Ministry after the meeting.
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