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Turkey-Africa Relations 2016
Turkey-Africa Relations 2016
Saharan Africa took place in January 2015 when Erdogan visited Ethiopia, Djibouti, and
Somalia. Turkish press reports in 2015 suggested he would make a couple more visits to Africa
in 2015; that did not happen. Elections in Turkey and the crisis in neighboring Syria may have
caused the government to reassess the amount of high-level time it could devote to Africa in
2015.
Diplomatic Representation
Prior to 2009, Turkey only had embassies in the five North African countries and the
Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Kenya, Nigeria, Senegal, South Africa, and Sudan.
By the end of 2015, Turkey had embassies in the five North African countries, 34 countries in
sub-Saharan Africa, and a consulate general in self-declared independent Somaliland. This
constituted a massive expansion of Turkish diplomatic missions in the past six years; Turkey has
more embassies in Africa than many larger and wealthier countries. On the other hand, some of
these embassies are tiny and Turkey has encountered difficulties adequately staffing some of
them. While it is Turkeys stated goal to have an embassy in every African country, it is
questionable whether this is the best use of scarce diplomatic resources.
African diplomatic representation in Ankara has also expanded impressively. As recently
as 1997, the five North African countries and South Africa were the only African countries to
have an embassy in Turkey. By the end of 2015, there were 32 African embassies in Ankara, an
unusually large number for a country with an economy the size of Turkeys.
Trade
Turkey has significantly expanded its trade with Africa, but at under $20 billion in 2014 it
still remains less than 5 percent of Turkeys global trade. Turkeys trade with all of Africa is just
slightly greater than its total trade with the United States. In 2014, according to the International
Monetary Funds Direction of Trade Statistics Yearbook, Turkeys trade with the five North
African countries totaled just over $13 billion or about 3.3 percent of its global trade. Its trade
with the 49 countries in sub-Saharan Africa totaled about $6.5 billion or 1.6 percent of its global
trade.
In terms of trade balance, Turkey exports almost three times as much by dollar value to
North Africa as it imports from those countries. While the trade balance is somewhat more equal
in the case of sub-Saharan Africa, Turkey still exports much more to the region than it imports
from those countries. In addition to the countries of North Africa, Turkeys most important
trading partners are South Africa, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Ghana, and Cte dIvoire.
One of the major promoters of Turkey-Africa trade is the Turkish Confederation of
Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON), which is affiliated with Hizmet or the Glen
movement. Turkey has a long way to go before Africa becomes a truly significant part of its
global trade. Looking at it another way, however, Turkeys trade with Africa in 2014 was almost
$8 billion more than Russias trade with Africa.
Foreign Direct Investment and Business Relations
Good statistics for foreign direct investment (FDI) going to Africa are difficult to obtain
and Turkey is no exception. In 2000, Turkish FDI in Africa totaled about $750 million.
According to Turkeys Foreign Ministry website, cumulative Turkish FDI in Africa by 2015
reached $5 billion. On the other hand, a Turkish Foreign Ministry official stated at a conference
in Istanbul in September 2015 that Turkish FDI in Africa reached $8.4 billion. Take your pick.
Ethiopia received $3.2 billion of Turkeys total FDI to Africa while other significant
recipients have been Sudan, South Africa, and Nigeria. The leading sectors for Turkish
investment are construction, textiles, manufacturing, and agricultural vehicles. It is primarily
small and medium-sized Turkish companies that are attracted to the African countries. A number
of small Turkish firms are developing a strong niche market in sectors such as construction and
information and technology. Larger firms may have concluded that the market is too small to be
worth their effort.
Turkey has signed agreements on avoiding double taxation and on investment protection
with Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Egypt, Ethiopia, Sudan, and South Africa. The Union of
Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey and the Union of African Chambers of
Commerce, Industry, Agriculture and Commodity Exchanges have established the TurkishAfrican Chamber, the aim of which is to increase economic dialogue and cooperation. Although
it has agreed upon a work plan, it does not seem to have accomplished much so far.
Turkeys Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEiK) has also encouraged the
establishment of bilateral business councils with African partners. More than 20 have been
created. The Hizmet movement has its own business associations in most African cities that
have a significant Turkish business presence.
Turkish contractors initiated projects in Africa between 1972 and 2013 worth $39 billion
or about 19 percent of Turkeys global international contractor business. Turkeys Export Import
Bank is financing at least four projects in sub-Saharan Africa and has a pipeline for funding $1
billion worth of projects throughout Africa. The purpose of the Export Import Bank is to support
socially useful projects.
Turkish Airlines has expanded its African service and is now arguably the largest carrier
that goes to/from the continent. In 2008, the only cities it served in sub-Saharan Africa were
Addis Ababa, Khartoum, Lagos, and Johannesburg. By the end of 2015, it provided service to
44 destinations in Africa.
Assistance
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humanitarian relief organization known as Kimse Yok Mu. Hizmet worked cooperatively with
the government of Turkey until a political falling out in 2013. Since then, the government has
tried, so far without success, to close down Hizmet schools in Africa. Other important Turkish
civil society organizations operating in Africa are the Humanitarian Relief Foundation, Doctors
Worldwide, and Turkish Red Crescent.
Conclusion
Turkeys weaknesses in Africa as seen from the African side are an inadequate
understanding of Africa, its relatively modest FDI, trade balances that generally favor Turkey,
and some confusion about Turkeys policy on Islam.
Turkeys strengths in Africa are a willingness to take risks such as its heavy involvement
in Somalia, its humanitarian diplomacy much of which is implemented by non-governmental
organizations, a strong private sector, the role of Turkish Airlines, and a reputation for
minimizing self-interest.
Turkey has made enormous progress over the past ten years in its relations with Africa.
The big question is whether domestic economic and political challenges and the crisis in Syria
will permit Turkey to consolidate its gains and expand its activities in Africa.