President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said, "We are particularly pleased that Angola is one of our most important partners in our relations with the African continent."
During his speech at the meeting between the delegations chaired by President Erdoğan and President Manuel Gonçalves Lourenço of Angola, President Erdoğan said, "This first visit at the Presidential level, upon the invitation of my esteemed friend, is a new token of Türkiye-Angola friendship."
Noting that they had in-depth discussions about their relations, especially in the field of defence industry and the fight against terrorism during their bilateral meeting with President Lourenço of Angola, President Erdoğan stated that the momentum gained in the relations between the two countries in the recent period was pleasing.
Underlining that the 3rd Türkiye-Africa Business Forum would be held in Istanbul on October 21-22, President Erdoğan stated that the Minister of Industry and Trade would attend the forum, representing Angola.
Expressing that the 3rd Türkiye-Africa Partnership Summit would be held in Istanbul on December 17-18, 2021, President Erdoğan expressed his desire to see President Lourenço of Angola at the summit.
President Erdoğan noted that he would also be pleased to see President Lourenço of Angola at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, which would be held on March 11-13 next year.
President Erdoğan said, "We are particularly pleased that Angola is one of our most important partners in our relations with the African continent," and emphasised that they reaffirmed their will to further develop friendship and cooperation in all spheres during their bilateral meeting.
Expressing that the bilateral trade volume was far behind its real potential, President Erdoğan continued as follows:
"As of the first eight months of this year, our trade volume, which was $177.5 million in 2020, was at $132 million. We must work together to reach the $500 million goal we set during your visit to Türkiye. The execution of partnership agreements between our private sector representatives, whom you met in Ankara, and their Angolan counterparts would increase bilateral investments.
It is known that our respective Finance Ministers are in contact for providing funds and loans for infrastructure projects. The concrete work of our prominent companies in a wide range of fields from transportation to agriculture, renewable energy, health, textile, electricity and housing projects is the result of our determination to strengthen bilateral relations. Above all, Turkish Airlines, in particular, started direct flights to Angola as of October 13. I believe this will have a multiplier effect on our commercial and human relations."
Stating that the facilitating steps to be taken towards the visa liberalization issue would also accelerate the mobility of people and products, President Erdoğan said, "In this regard, my dear friend said, 'There is no concern for us to take this step quickly on visa liberalisation'."
Expressing that they were ready to further develop cooperation through the Turkish Maarif Foundation, operating in 44 countries in the field of education, President Erdoğan said:
"The coronavirus pandemic has once again shown how much global solidarity is needed in the field of health. The cooperation agreement in the field of health will improve and institutionalise our experience sharing and solidarity, and I believe it is beneficial to sign it as soon as possible.
The Turkish private sector is ready for cooperation in a wide spectrum from hospital construction and management to pharmaceutical sales and production. I hope that these historical visits that we have made mutually in this short period of three months will be auspicious for our countries. In particular, the continuation of mutual visits by our ministers, who are currently among our delegation members, will become even easier since Turkish Airlines has started direct flights. Now, the distance between İstanbul and Luanda is 7.5 hours. So, this shows how things became easier. I would like to thank all the Angolan authorities before you, Mr. President. I hope this meeting between delegations will pave the way for a new period between our states."
Agreements were signed between the two countries in various fields such as education, customs, agriculture, and media as part of President Erdoğan's visit to Angola.
