Africa on the rise by Abderahman Salaheldin*

Their representatives gathering in Addis Ababa signed the charter of the Organization of African Unity (OAU), an organization that in its infancy brought hope to the newly independent African countries and was succeeded later by the African Union (AU), which continues to work for a better and more prosperous tomorrow for Africa.

In celebrating Africa Day in Ankara this year, the African ambassadors will be privileged and honored by the participation of Abdullah Gül, the president of the Republic of Turkey, who will be our guest of honor and deliver the keynote speech at Bilkent University. President Gül’s presence at this year’s celebrations is a testament to the high priority that Turkey attaches to its relations with Africa. Through his many visits to the continent in recent years and his tireless efforts aimed at boosting relations with Africa, H.E. President Gül has emerged as the vanguard of Turkey’s rapprochement policy with the continent.

In celebrating this momentous occasion of “Africa Day,” we not only remember the cooperation, unity and great strides that the African people have been able to achieve over the past decades, but also reflect positively on the wonderful prospects of Africa’s burgeoning future political, economic and social prospects. In fact, this year brought with it “winds of change” for a large segment of our continent’s population, galvanizing and inspiring millions around the globe and ushering in a new era of freedom and hope for our people.

It is not difficult to see why there is an upsurge of global interest in Africa. Africa is the world’s second-largest and second most-populous continent after Asia. At about 30.2 million kilometers squared, including adjacent islands, it covers 6 percent of the Earth’s total surface area and 20.4 percent of the total land area. With more than 1 billion people in 54 countries, it accounts for about 15 percent of the world’s human population.

Recent developments on the continent have raised expectations for an African renaissance, evidenced by significant real growth rates in a number of African countries. Of the world’s 10 fastest-growing economies in the past 10 years, six were in Africa, as Angola, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Chad, Mozambique and Rwanda all enjoyed annual growth rates of around 8 percent or more. Moreover, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) predicts that Africa will occupy seven of the top 10 places in terms of the world’s fastest growing economies over the next five years. This economic success story has been coupled with better economic management and political reforms that promise a more sustainable economic trajectory to Africa’s economic growth potential.

In line with this increased global interest in Africa, the past few years have also witnessed a rapid and exceptional development in Turkish-African relations. This mutual interest led to the declaration of Turkey as a “strategic partner” to the African Union in 2008, the convening of the First Turkey-Africa Cooperation Summit in 2008, and the holding of annual meetings which bring together both sides with a view to boosting relations in all spheres. Such interest also culminated in a series of high profile visits from both parties, as well as a marked increase in trade, investment, diplomatic posts and other forms of exchange between Turkey and Africa.

Here, one should note the very successful state of Turkish-Egyptian relations, which can, in fact, serve as a model for the enhancement of relations with other African states. In the wake of a free trade agreement between Egypt and Turkey, trade volumes have multiplied fourfold over the past four years, despite the persistent global financial crisis, reaching a value of $3.5 billion in the past year. Turkish exports to Egypt constitute roughly three-quarters of this amount. During the same period, hundreds of Turkish investors have been setting up businesses in Egypt in a number of areas, including textiles, garments, automobiles, petrochemicals and food processing. There are currently around 205 Turkish factories and enterprises in Egypt, with investments exceeding $1.5 billion.

Turkey’s target to reach a trade volume of $30 billion with Africa in the next few years can be greatly facilitated by its cooperation with Egypt. Very soon this year, roll-on/roll-off (RORO) ships will start operating between the Turkish port of Mersin and the Egyptian city of Alexandria. Egypt will act as a bridge linking Turkey with the wider African market. Turkish products produced in Egypt have the opportunity of rapidly accessing growing African markets tariff-free. Egypt is a member-state of the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA). With its 19 member states, population of 430 million, annual import bill of around $152 billion and export bill of over $157 billion, COMESA forms a major market for both internal and external trading. Turkish businesses in Egypt therefore have the added advantage of exporting products tariff-free to this substantial portion of the continent’s markets.

Egypt can also act as the golden travel gate for Turkish passengers and exporters to Africa. The exemplary cooperation between the Egyptian national carrier Egypt Air and its Turkish counterpart, Turkish Airlines (THY), provides yet another example of the successful cooperative relations that exist between the two countries. The two carriers currently operate more than 30 co-chaired and cargo flights weekly connecting via Cairo, Alexandria and İstanbul to a number of African and global destinations, allowing each carrier to have an extended outreach both within the African continent and beyond.

Over the past five decades, Africa managed to free itself from the shackles of its dreadful past of colonialism and overcome numerous challenges, as well as achieve a number of major political and economic accomplishments. With its newfound confidence, the continent is able to assert itself on the global scene, taking its rightful place as a contributor and not just a consumer of global wealth and civilization. The next decade will be Africa’s decade and Turkey will be its partner.

 *Abderahman Salaheldin is the ambassador of Egypt in Ankara.