Turkish Eximbank Chief Executive Officer, Adnan Yildirim plans to visit Zambia to discuss possible financing for infrastructure development projects.
Mr Yildirim said Turkish Eximbank was ready to support Zambia’s infrastructure development programme in the short to medium term.
He said this is through the provision of finance to Turkish companies interested to undertake projects in the country under the umbrella of the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEIK) and Turkish Contractors Association.
Mr Yildirim was speaking during a bilateral meeting with Zambia’s Ambassador to Turkey, Joseph Chilengi in Ankara yesterday.
“We are also happy that Turkish Airlines has launched a direct flight between Istanbul and Lusaka, this will help increase trade between our two countries,” he said.
Mr Yildirim who was flanked by Turkish Eximbank Regional Manager, Funda Baydar also said he was ready to travel to Zambia in April this year to discuss priority infrastructure development projects with line ministries.
And Dr Chilengi said President Edgar Lungu and his Turkish counterpart, Recep Tayyip Erdogan shared common aspirations for infrastructure development in order to trigger economic growth.
Dr Chilengi said Government had embarked on an ambitious development programme focusing on infrastructure.
He urged Turkish Eximbank to explore ways of supporting Zambia’s infrastructure development programme.
“We want Turkish entrepreneurs to participate in the Zambian economy and the Zambian private sector to participate in the Turkish economy, admittedly we do not have many Turkish entrepreneurs in Zambia and we want to change this,” he said.
He encouraged Mr Yildirim’s proposed visit to Zambia as this would open up new avenues for more bilateral co-operation between the two countries.
This is contained in a statement Issued by First Secretary (Press) Embassy of the Republic of Zambia, Ankara, Turkey Jerry Munthali.
