South Sudan will benefit the most being a non-member of World Trade Organization, Turkish economy minister says.
May 3, Ankara (Jonglei Times)-Turkey
and South Sudan signed Wednesday a trade and economic cooperation
agreement as a part of Turkey's goal of furthering commercial, political
and economic relations with African countries
Speaking
at a signing ceremony in Turkish capital Ankara, Nihat Zeybekci,
Turkey’s economy minister, said that agriculture, livestock, education,
healthcare, energy, fishery, mining, science and technology would be the
primary areas of interest under the agreement.
"South
Sudan, which is not a World Trade Organization member, will earn the
status of being the country provided with the most advantages. We will
also establish a joint economic commission," Zeybekci said.
The
minister added that they would also like to start working "immediately"
on agreements to prevent double taxation, and to mutually encourage and
protect investments.
Zeybekci stressed
that Turkey considered Africa a "significant trade partner," and not
just a provider of raw materials or a market for Turkish products.
"Today
our trade volume is around $20 billion. Turkish companies have invested
over $6 billion in Africa," the minister said, adding the Turkish
construction projects in the continent were worth some $58 billion.
"We
would also like to improve our relations with South Sudan in line with
our developing relations with Africa," Zeybekci said.
The
minister reiterated Turkey's desire for peace and stability in the
war-ravaged country, and called on Turkish businesses to invest in
energy and agriculture, in particular.
South
Sudan's Finance Minister Stephen Dhieu Dau, for his part, said that his
government was seeking to further its cooperation with Turkey.
"We
believe that Turkish business people will feel at home when they come
to South Sudan. We invite them to invest in mining, agriculture,
tourism, energy, infrastructure and oil," he said, adding the
investments would be protected.
Since
2013, South Sudan has been torn mired in deadly conflict between
government troops loyal to President Salva Kiir and rebels backing
former Vice President Riek Machar. Fighting since has torn the country
along ethnic lines, killing tens of thousands and displacing three
million from their homes.
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