South Africa is looking to advance economic ties with T\u00fcrkiye, the country\u2019s Deputy Minister of International Relations and Cooperation Alvin Botes announced Thursday during an official visit to Ankara.<\/p>\n
\u201cEconomy is a vital field for South Africa in its relationship with T\u00fcrkiye and we\u2019re seeking new economic expansions in the post-COVID-19 period,\u201d Botes told Anadolu Agency (AA) as he revealed he held a political consultation meeting with T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Sedat \u00d6nal in the capital.<\/p>\n
\u201cFor South Africa, T\u00fcrkiye is both a trade and strategic partner; it is a regional power and a strong country in terms of economy as it sits between Asia and Europe,\u201d Botes said, explaining that he was visiting in order to advance both economic and political ties between the two countries.<\/p>\n
‘Infrastructure work full of opportunity’
\nBotes went on to underline that South Africa holds \u201ca politically and economically key strategic position\u201d in the African continent, as well as \u201cpowerful sectors in many fields.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cT\u00fcrkiye is known in the fields of trade and industry,\u201d Botes pointed out. \u201cThe steps they have taken in these fields have piqued our interest. Especially their work in infrastructure offers key opportunities for the relations between the two countries.\u201d<\/p>\n
On the other hand, Botes remarked, the strength of T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s manufacturing sector and the implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Agreement (AfCFTA) could help improve ties, as well.<\/p>\n
The deputy minister described T\u00fcrkiye as a significant hub of investment and trade for his country while he touted T\u00fcrkiye as \u201can important actor\u201d in its proximity to Europe and commercial activity in the Black Sea.<\/p>\n
\u201cSouth Africa\u2019s doors are always open to Turkish investors,\u201d Botes declared. \u201cThe Republic of South Africa has a strong constitutional structure. It\u2019s important that investments are made in a lawful order,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Many Turkish investors are active in South Africa in production, agriculture, mining and industry, Botes informed, saying his country aimed to become an investment hub not only for T\u00fcrkiye but other nations, too.<\/p>\n
\u201cThis is my first time in T\u00fcrkiye,\u201d Botes also revealed, expressing his pleasure about the hospitability of Turkish people. \u201cSimilarly, the government officials that welcomed me have been very friendly. This perspective, too, is helping develop relations between the two countries,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Indeed, earlier this week, another South African Minister Dikeledi Phillistus Magadzi expressed during a reception in the capital Pretoria observing T\u00fcrkiye\u2019s 99th Republic Day the hope to strengthen ties between the two nations.<\/p>\n
Speaking at the reception, Magadzi said her government is encouraged by recent visits by officials from both countries, giving the example of the visit by South Africa’s Foreign Minister Naledi Pandor to T\u00fcrkiye early this year.<\/p>\n
Also at the event was T\u00fcrkiye’s Ambassador to South Africa Ay\u015feg\u00fcl Kanda\u015f who said she was happy that relations between the two countries are flourishing at all levels, from politics to trade and investment, and person-to-person relations.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Deputy Minister Botes said T\u00fcrkiye was a vital trade partner for his country amid increasing diplomacy between the two nations<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12963,"featured_media":21395,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[16,15],"tags":[7,26,25],"class_list":{"0":"post-21398","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-news","8":"category-politics","9":"tag-apie-project","10":"tag-news","11":"tag-politics"},"yoast_head":"\n