Turkey, Sudan sign agreement to boost trade ties

ANKARA

Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci and Sudanese Trade Minister Hatim el-Sir Ali on July 4 signed an association agreement in order to boost trade.

“The aim of this agreement is to increase the bilateral trade volume between the two countries to $2 billion,” Zeybekci said after the signing ceremony of the Arabic version of the deal.

He added that Ankara will soon launch the ratification process in the Turkish Parliament.

Late December, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan visited Khartoum and called for greater Turkish investment in Sudan.

The countries then voiced their hope gradually to increase bilateral trade ties to $10 billion a year from the current $500 million, and signed 12 agreements on military, economic and agricultural cooperation.

The main export items of Turkey to Sudan are electrical machines, steel plant, automotive byproducts, boilers, steel equipment, plastic products, textiles and paper, according to data from the Turkish Foreign Ministry.

Turkey’s main imports from Sudan are oilseed and fruits, sugar and sugar products, unfinished leather, lac, Arabic gum, resin, volatile oils and cotton.