RELATIONS BETWEEN TURKEY AND ANGOLA

Turkey recognized the Republic of Angola in 1975 shortly after its independence. Within the framework of the policy of Partnership with Africa, Turkey is keen to develop its relations with Angola. The Turkish Embassy in Luanda was opened on April 1, 2010. The Embassy of Angola in Ankara was officially inaugurated on April 4, 2013.

Increased reciprocal visits between the two countries are expected to provide an impetus to every aspect of bilateral political, economic and cultural relations. Such visits and further bilateral cooperation will help to fulfill the potential of the partnership between Angola and Turkey.

H.E. Mr. José Pedro de Moraris Junior, then Minister of Finance participated in the First Turkey-Africa Cooperation Summit organized on 18-21 August 2008 in Istanbul and was received by the 11^th President of the Republic of Turkey, H.E. Mr. Abdullah Gül.

Subsequently, an Angolan delegation headed by the Minister of Planning, H.E. Ana Dias Lourenço participated in the 4th UN Conference on the Least Developed Countries, held in Istanbul on 9-13 May 2011 and met with H.E. Mr. Ahmet Davutoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey.

Ambassador Maria Cuandina Carvalho, the Undersecretary of the Ministry of External Relations of the Republic of Angola, paid a visit to Ankara on 2-5 April 2013 in order to participate in the inauguration ceremony of the Angolan Embassy.

The Vice Minister of Trade, Mr. Alvaro Augusto Soares Paixao Junior, visited İzmir for the opening ceremony of the 82th International Izmir Fair held on 29 August-9 September 2013.

The Barbaros Naval Task Force conducted a historical visit to the port of Luanda on 27-29 April 2014 with three ships. On this occasion, the first military-to-military contacts were also held.

The Vice Minister of Urbanization, H.E.Nhanga Kalunga Helder Fonseca de Assunçao participated in the World Cadastre Summit which took place on 20-25 April 2015 in İstanbul and was received by the Minister of Environment and Urbanization of the Republic of Turkey.

The Vice Minister of National Defense, General Salviano de Jesus Sequeira attended the IDEF 2015 International Defense Industry Fair in İstanbul.

H.E. Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey andH. E. Georges Rebelo Pinto Chikoti, Minister of Foreign Relations ofAngola met on tthe margins ofan internatonal summit in Caracas on September 17, 2017.

A delegationfrom the Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) visited Luanda on 14-18 April 2015 and held talks on possible areas of cooperation with the then Minister of Health H.E. Mr. Jose Van-Dunem, the Angolan Red Cross and the Lwini Foundation.

Subsequently, a delegation from TIKA’s Windhoek Program Coordination Office visited Luanda on 2-4 September 2015 and held talks with officials from the Antonio Agostinho Neto Cultural Center and the Angolan Red Cross. With the coordination of the Embassy of the Republic of Turkey in Luanda and the Lwini Foundation, TIKA donated 50 wheel chairs to recipients through five Angolan health institutions. This was TIKA’s first project in Angola.

The Commercial, Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement signed on 22 August 2008 constitutes the basis of the commercial and economic relations between Turkey and Angola.

A delegation consisting of 60 businessmen from the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM), led by the Vice Minister of Economy, Mr. Adnan Yıldırım made a fruitful visit to Luanda on 28-30 April 2015. On this occasion, the first Turkey-Angola Business Forum was also held and the Turkish-Angola Business Council was established.

The first meeting of the Turkey-Angola Joint Economic Commission took place in July, 2017 in Luanda under the Co-Chairmanship of H. E. Bülend Tüfenkci, Minister of Customs and Commerce of Turkey and H. E. Rui Jorge Carneiro Mangueira, Minister of Justice and Human Rights of Angola.

The official annual bilateral trade volume between the two countries amounted to approximately135 million USDat the end of2016(Turkish exports: 128 million USD, imports:6 millionUSD). Export items of Turkey to Angola consist of foodstuffs, textile products, clothing, volatile oil, electrical equipment, iron and steel products and construction materials. The actual trade volume between the two countries is believed to be higher than statistics suggest, taking into account the shuttle trade and trade realized through third countries.

Higher education scholarships are provided annually by the Turkish Government to Angolan students.

Information on these scholarships can be found at the following website: www.turkiyeburslari.gov.tr.