Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Bekir Pakdemirli is making an official visit to Burkina Faso to attend the Joint Economic Commission (KEK) meeting, to conduct various visits and bilateral meetings.
Pakdemirli, who will co-chair the Joint Economic Commission, was greeted at the airport by the Minister of Agriculture and Hydro-Agricultural Development of Burkina Faso, Salifou Ouédraogo.
Firstly, our Minister held a bilateral meeting with the Minister of Commerce, Industry and Crafts of Burkina Faso, Harouna Kabore. Minister Pakdemirli recalled that last year Ministrial level of participation to the Turkey-ECOWAS Economic and Business Forum and 2nd Turkey-Africa Economy and Business Forum was provided from Burkina Faso. Pakdemirli also mentioned the visit of Mr. Kabore to our country in April and stated that these high level contacts are very important in developing commercial and economic relations.
Minister Pakdemirli stated that the trade volume between Burkina Faso and Turkey was about 4.2 million dollars in 2005, and in 2018 this volume raised 61.4 million dollars. He said, "As of the end of 2018, our export to Burkina Faso is 52.7 million dollars. Our imports from Burkina Faso is amount to $ 8.7 million. In order to stabilize our bilateral trade and accelerate the economic integration between our countries, we need to establish a free trade area."
Minister Pakdemirli stated that a Trade and Economic Partnership Agreement (TEOA) which will be concluded between Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and our country will establish a structure based on the diversification of trade between the two countries, taking into account the priority sectors of Burkina Faso, including other economic cooperation.
Pakdemirli said that they will continue to provide all kinds of support to Burkina Faso on bilateral and multilateral platforms and then he met with the Minister of Agriculture and Hydro-Agricultural Development Salifou Ouédraogo.
Pakdemirli stated that our country is ready to share information and experience with Burkina Faso in fields such as agriculture, animal husbandry and environmental protection. Pakdemirli emphasized that sharing of knowledge and experience in R & D studies is extremely important in carrying out existing relations in agriculture.
Pakdemirli said that we are open to trade with Burkina Faso about products such as hazelnut, fig, grape, apricot, pomegranate, olive oil, apple and citrus which we are one of the leading countries in the production and quality in the world. He also proposed cooperation in the development of the cotton sector in Burkina Faso. He stated that we will continue to provide all kinds of support to Burkina Faso in terms of technical training.
Minister Pakdemirli remarked that the teams established between the two countries are working on Memorandums of Understanding in the field of agriculture and forestry. He said, "I hope that these Memorandum of Understandings, which can be signed as soon as possible on the occasion of the meeting of the leaders of the two countries, will contribute to our cooperation."
Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Bekir Pakdemirli's Burkina Faso shift will continue with a roundtable meeting with Harouna Kabore, Minister of Industry, Trade and Handicrafts of Burkina Faso.
At the meeting, investments issue will be discussed with the participation of Turkish and Burkinese business people.
