Fatih Hafız Mehmet
January 24, 2017•Update: January 24, 2017
By Tufan
ANTANANARIVO, Madagascar
Turkish businessmen are unaware of the "rich" resources of Madagascar, said Turkey’s ambassador to the island nation a day before the arrival of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for an official visit.
Volkan Turk Vural told Anadolu Agency in an exclusive interview that Madagascar officials are aware of the experience Turkey has and hope this will contribute to the development of the island, off Africa’s southeastern coast.
Madagascar has important economic potential with rich resources and diverse flora and fauna and a promising country, he added.
Madagascar’s government wants to benefit from Turkish firms' know-how in building hydroelectric dams, roads, hospitals, stadiums and mass housing, Vural stressed.
He said, "We cannot say that Turkish entrepreneurs are aware of the market in Madagascar," due to the distance between the two countries, lack of direct flights until recently, visa requirements, and Madagascar’s economic woes.
Interest in president’s visit
Turkey opened its embassy in Antananarivo in 2010, despite the political crisis in Madagascar then, said Vural.
He underlined, "Turkish Airlines starting flights to Antananarivo became a milestone in our goal of improving bilateral relations."
Since 2010 Turkey has also provided scholarships to 75 local Malagasy students, Vural added.
He also said the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA) has contributed to the country’s development through several projects in Madagascar.
Vural added that the island’s people and media have interest in Erdogan's visit to the country.
The official visit, on Wednesday and Thursday, is part of Erdogan’s five-day southeast Africa tour.
According to the Turkish Foreign Ministry, the Turkish-Malagasy trade volume in 2015 was $60 million, the vast majority of it – $54 million – made up of Turkey's exports to Madagascar.
Madagascar is the fourth-largest island the world, spanning 592,000 square kilometers, located in the Indian Ocean. The country has a population of 24 million people.
