By JOHN AKALA
Minister of Commerce, Trade and Industry, Chipoka Mulenga has arrived in Turkey’s commercial and industrial hub of Istanbul to attend the Turkey-Africa Economic and Business Forum.
Mr Mulenga will join dignitaries from 39 African countries at the two-day economic and business forum, which will be officially opened tomorrow by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The theme of the Turkey-Africa Economic and Business Forum is “Deepening Turkey-Africa Partnership: Trade, Investment, Technology and Logistics.”
Speaking shortly after arrival at Istanbul Airport, Mr Mulenga said the Turkey-Africa Economic and Business Forum was timely and in line with the United Party for National Development (UPND) administration’s development agenda aimed at ensuring that citizens accrue maximum benefits from Zambia’s international engagements through promotion of trade and investment.
Mr Mulenga was received by Chargé d’Affaires at the Zambian Mission in Turkey, Stephen Mwenya, Honorary Consul of Zambia in Istanbul, Dr Bulent Goktuna and officials from the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Turkey.
He is today expected to attend a Ministerial Meeting co-chaired by Minister of Trade of the Republic of Turkey, Dr Mehmet Mus and African Union (AU) Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Industry and Mining, Ambassador Albert Muchanga.
The Minister is also scheduled to have a bilateral meeting with Dr Mus and a series of engagements with potential Turkish investors as well as panel discussions.
Mr Mulenga will tomorrow join dignitaries at the official opening of the Turkey-Africa Economic and Business Forum to be graced by President Erdogan.
This is according to media statement by Zambian First Secretary for Press in Turkey Jeremy Munthali.
