Türkiye’s embassy in Zambia hosts cuisine week

By James Kunda

LUSAKA, Zambia (AA) - Türkiye’s embassy in Lusaka, Zambia inaugurated Turkish Cuisine Week on Tuesday.

Turkish cuisine is one of the world's top cuisines, and cuisine week is marked globally every year in May with events and presentations in many countries.

“Turkish delicacies will be presented by the embassy’s chef, Yakup Metin. This year will be dedicated to Turkish Aegean cuisine, a lovely fusion of history, culture and nature,” said Türkiye’s Ambassador to Zambia Istem Circiroglu during the occasion.

She also used the occasion to celebrate the strong bond between Türkiye and Zambia, highlighting that trade between the two countries has more than doubled from $25 million in 2021 to $52 million in 2022, remaining as high also in 2023.

“So far, 25 agreements and memoranda of understanding have been signed between Türkiye and Zambia. We are working to finalize the remaining ones. 198 Zambian students have benefitted from Türkiye scholarships by studying at Turkish universities and more will continue to do so,” she added.

Circiroglu said Turkish agencies had so far contributed to Zambia through training, capacity building, food aid, water boreholes and disaster relief as well as other technical assistance, with Türkiye’s bilateral assistance to Zambia reaching around $1 million.

Representing the Zambian government at the occasion, Tourism Minister Rodney Sikumba said the two countries already had a working agreement in the field of tourism.

“We are also pleased that Turkish Airlines flies to Zambia twice a week, linking Lusaka with Istanbul and through Istanbul with the rest of the world, which is a critical ingredient in tourism growth,” Sikumba said.

He paid tribute to the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), the Turkish Disaster Management Agency and the Turkish Red Crescent as well as the Turkish Diyanet Foundation for the relief support rendered to various communities in the southern African nation.