Speaking at a joint press conference with Senegalese President Sall, Erdoğan said: “With the communique, action plan and joint implementation report we adopted during the 3rd Türkiye-Africa Partnership Summit in Istanbul, we set out a road map in our relations with Africa for the 2022-2026 period. We will continue to enhance our relations with African countries on the basis of sincerity, brotherhood and solidarity.”

“We discussed all aspects of the Türkiye-Senegal relations”

Recalling that with the communique, action plan and joint implementation report, adopted during the 3rd Türkiye-Africa Partnership Summit in Istanbul, a road map had been set out in Türkiye’s relations with Africa for the 2022-2026 period, Erdoğan said: “We will continue to enhance our relations with African countries on the basis of sincerity, brotherhood and solidarity. We discussed all aspects of the Türkiye-Senegal relations at our talks with my treasured brother. We exchanged our ideas on how we can further advance our relations in every area. We once again gladly observed that we share the same determination to deepen our cooperation.”

“I am very happy that I will be attending with my treasure brother the opening ceremony of Dakar Olympic Stadium, built by Turkish entrepreneurs, tomorrow,” Erdoğan stated, and noted: “I am very proud that the new stadium, which will add new ones to Senegal’s sports successes, was constructed by a Turkish firm. I wholeheartedly congratulate the great success the Senegalese National Team achieved in the Africa Cup of Nations by winning the championship.”

“Our bilateral trade volume reached $540 million in 2021”

Underscoring that the bilateral trade volume between Türkiye and Senegal had reached $540 million in 2021, having increased by 42% compared to the previous year, Erdoğan said: “Our goal is to elevate this figure to some $1 billion in a short span of time. We attach great importance to structuring our investments in a way to prioritize human resources while advancing our relations. For instance, 1,000 of the total 1,500 workers employed in the Dakar Olympic Stadium project were our Senegalese brothers and sisters. The contributions of our companies within the Emerging Senegal Plan will continue with the support of the Senegalese people. Also, our firms in Senegal carry out activities in the areas of energy, steel production, healthcare, food industry, ready-mixed concrete production and gold processing on the basis of mutual interest.”

Erdoğan went on to say: “We have close cooperation in the area of development as well. TIKA, which has since 2007 completed 186 projects in Senegal with a total value of 12 million dollars, is determined to maintain its activities. The Turkish Maarif Foundation, for its part, provides education for 287 students at 13 schools in Senegal. The number of the Senegalese students granted Türkiye scholarships since 1992, on the other hand, has reached 187. Also, we appreciate Senegalese officials for the support they provide to our fight against FETO terrorist organization. We have no doubt that this support and solidarity will continue.” (ILKHA)