Tuzmen attends meeting to boost trade with Africa

State Minister for Foreign Trade Kursad Tuzmen yesterday attended the third "Turkey-Africa: Foreign Trade Bridge" meeting organized by the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON). Speaking at the opening ceremony in Istanbul, Tuzmen warned that food and energy prices are soaring and that cooperation in these areas is a must. Pointing out that in 2003 the trade volume between Turkey and African countries amounted to $5.4 billion, he added that this rose to $13 billion at the end of 2007 due to improving bilateral relations. "We aim to boost our trade volume with African countries to $50 billion by the end of 2012," he added. TUSKON Chairman Rizanur Meral said that in recent years Turkey's exports to African countries had increased 78.4% and its imports 78.7%.