Friday
April 28, 2017 The Gambia government signed agricultural co-operation deal with
the republic of Turkey at the just concluded Turkey-Africa first Agriculture
Ministers Meeting and Agribusiness Forum held in Antalya, Turkey.
The
deal was signed between Turkey and six African countries, namely The Gambia,
Guinea, Ivory Coast, Rwanda, Congo and Djibouti.
The
signed cooperation deal highlights areas in agriculture, livestock and
fisheries.
In
attendance for The Gambia was Omar Jallow (O.J), minister for agriculture and
his delegates.
Speaking
at a forum attended by more than 300 delegates, Mr Faruk Celik, Turkey’s Food,
Agriculture and Livestock minister said Turkey’s desire to develop agricultural
co-operation with African countries date back in 2005.
He
added their (Turkey) trade relation with Africa so far has increased from $5
billion to $18 billion.
Minister
Faruk Celik stated that the meeting was meant to increase trade volume in areas
like agriculture and chart out the way further to developing relations in other
viable potential areas.
He
said: “In terms of agriculture our trade has increased from $418 million to
$2.5 billion. Equally, we know that these figures are not sufficient. And we
are aware of this.”
He
further told the participating African delegation that Africa as a continent
holds the world’s one fourth arable land. This, Minister Celik said is
virtually impossible to ignore the continent’s potentials in agricultural
drive.
He
argued that Turkey’s quest to support their African counterparts is to ensure
that Africa stands on its own feet.
We
realised that is possible for countries to develop when their agricultural
supplies matches the demands, he stated.
In
her speech, H.E. Mrs Josefa Leonel Correia SACKO, Commissioner for Rural
Economy and Agriculture of the African Union Commission praised Turkey’s vast
experience when it comes to agriculture as one of the largest exporters of agricultural
commodities.
She
emphasised that having listened to several presentations at the meeting she is
convinced that they are on a right path, adding that African countries and
Turkey work towards a fresh cooperation.
“We’re
now witnessing a political will in Turkey. And this is very crucial for the
development of agricultural sector and development of African countries,” she
stated.
