Turkey cooperates with African countries on agriculture

By Dilara Zengin

ANKARA

Turkey aims to boost agricultural trade and investments with African countries via the Turkey-Africa First Agriculture Ministers Meeting and Agribusiness Forum, Food, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Faruk Celik said on Wednesday.

The ministers' meeting and the forum will be held in the Mediterranean resort province of Antalya on Thursday and Friday.

Celik said the event would gather Turkey's and African countries' high level representatives and businessmen to promote cooperation and trade in the agricultural sector.

The two-day event -- organized by the Turkish Ministry of Food, Agriculture and Livestock -- will host more than 300 participants, including ministers, from 54 African countries.

Celik noted that Turkey's relations with African countries, which are considered the country's strategic partner, were progressing day by day in the agriculture sector, especially after the Turkey-Africa Cooperation Summit held in 2008.

"The main theme of the meeting will be food security due to deaths as a result of drought in eastern Africa," Celik said.

The ministers’ meeting will be held under the theme of "Turkey-Africa Partnership on Rural Development for Achieving Food Security".

The forum will also hold side events on such issues as agricultural financing and credits, irrigation systems and climate resilience.