By Ben Nakomo
The President of the Republic of Turkey, Mr Abdullah Gul, effected a 48 hour visit to Cameroon to discuss economic cooperation and business opportunities. Accompanied by 150 businessmen, the highlights of the two day official visit to Cameroon, March 16 - 18, 2010; included discussions and agreements intended to open a new and bright page of bilateral relations between Turkey and Cameroon. In line with the China-Africa and India-Africa Summits, Turkey is stepping up its role in Africa's backyard. For Cameroon, Turkey is a potential veritable business partner. Turkey has the world's 15th largest GDP-P and 17th largest Nominal GDP. The country is a founding member of the OECD (Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development) and the G-20 major economies.
President Gul delivered a speech in a Turkey-Cameroon Business Forum, indicating that Turkey attached a special importance to Africa. 'Relations between Turkey and African countries have improved in the last 10 years,' he said. Gul added that Turkey would keep becoming the voice of Africa on the international platforms. 'We attach a special importance to close cooperation with Cameroon,' he said.
Turkey had 18 embassies in Africa and it would also open embassies in other 10 countries, he said. Turkish contractors could make business in Cameroon, he added. Turkish businessmen could invest in the areas of mining, health and education in this country, Gul posited.
Turkey's economy is becoming more dependent on industry in major cities, and less on agriculture, however traditional agriculture is still a major pillar to the Turkish economy. In 2007, the agricultural sector accounted for 8.9% of the GDP, while the industrial sector accounted for 30.8% and the services sector accounted for 59.3%.
The President of Turkey was decorated by President Paul Biya of Cameroon; the most distinguished decorations of the land - the Grand Croix of the National Orders of Valour. During the visit, Mr Gul and Biya, personally supervised the signing of two cooperation accords between Cameroon and Turkey. Fruitful business meetings were also held by the visiting Turkish entrepreneurs with Cameroonian business elites.
One of the Cooperation agreements signed was on the easing of Visa restrictions for Businessmen from both countries. This is welcome, as Cameroonian businesses source for new markets away from the euro-american staple. Since Turkey's economic reforms of 2001 inflation has fallen to single-digit numbers, investor confidence and foreign investment have soared, and unemployment has fallen. Turkey has gradually opened up its markets through economic reforms by reducing government controls on foreign trade and investment and the privatisation of publicly owned industries, and the liberalisation of many sectors to private and foreign participation has continued amid political debate. Cameroon's businesses now stand to exploit the new dispensation of bilateral cooperation.
© The Entrepreneur Newspaper 2010. All Rights Reserved . Follow The Entrepreneur News on Twitter. See Our Events in Face Book.
When an end is lawful and obligatory, the indispensable means to is are also lawful and obligatory .Do you understand?
Posted by: lacoste shoes | July 21, 2010 at 11:44 PM