'Turkey in Sudan benefits both countries'

By Tuba Sahin

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey should cooperate with Sudan on the country's rich above-ground and underground resources, Sudan’s consul in Istanbul said on Thursday.

We want Turkey -- not exploiters -- to benefit from Sudan's rich resources, Emad Mirghani Altohamy told a meeting organized by the New World Industrialist and Businessmen's Association (YENIAD) in Istanbul.

"Sudan is well known for its rich resources but is poor. Turkish industrialists will contribute to Sudan's development," Altohamy said.

He said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visit to Sudan last December helped strengthen historical ties between the countries.

"Sudan is the gateway to Africa. Our door is always open to Turkish businesspeople and we will do our level best to help them," Altohamy said.

At the meeting, Murat Kalsin, deputy head of the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO), underlined Sudan’s importance for Turkey's landmark “Opening to Africa" policy.

"Through focusing on markets such as Sudan, Turkey has taken an important step for competing with a number of countries," he said.

Kalsin added that the ITO would like to hold roundtable meetings with Africa via Sudan in order to set target projects.

Selman Esmerer, YENIAD's head, said the group hopes to organize business visits to three African countries including b2b meetings and business forums.

Esmerer added that YENIAD aims to establish a new entrepreneurship, innovation, and branding institute in Istanbul within a year.