Turkey and Africa Keywords:, trade, investment

N. Z. MOSAKI

Candidate of Historical Sciences

Traditionally, the major players in Africa have been the great Powers. In the beginning, these were European states that became metropolises for Africa. In the mid-twentieth century, the struggle for the continent (but not in the economy) was waged by the United States and the USSR. Since the 1990s, China's position has been strengthening. The rich resources and market of Africa are also of interest to countries such as Brazil and India.

In recent years, it is possible to observe the active penetration of another country into Africa, which is still beyond the attention of researchers. It is not a great Power, but it plays an important role in a vast region - in South-Eastern Europe, the Caucasus, and the Middle East. This is Turkey.

Turkey started participating in projects in Africa in 1998 under various World Bank programs for Africa. In 2003, after the Justice and Development Party (AKP) came to power, Ankara, as part of the announced "Africa strategy", began to more actively penetrate sub-Saharan countries1, 2005 was declared the Year of Africa in Turkey.

Until the late 1990s. Ankara was limited to relations only with the countries of North Africa, primarily with Libya.

The Turks call this country " the gateway to Africa." Turkish Prime Minister T. Ozal, who is considered the father of the Turkish "economic miracle", visited Libya twice (in 1984 and 1988). It is thanks to Ozal that Libya has acquired the status of Turkey's most important economic partner in Africa.

In the mid-1990s, Prime Ministers T. Chiller (1994) and N. Erbakan (1996) paid visits to Libya. In November 2009, Prime Minister R. Erdogan visited Tripoli and signed a number of agreements with Libya. In particular, the parties agreed on the introduction of a visa-free regime, on the supply of fresh water in tankers to Libya from the Manavgat complex (in Antalya province)², and the construction of facilities by Turkish firms at one of the largest oil fields in Libya - Fizan. It is planned to create a joint agricultural bank with a capital of $ 1 billion, ³ which will, in particular, facilitate investments of Libya, concerned about food security, in Turkish agriculture.

FUNDAMENTALS OF TURKEY'S AFRICAN POLICY

Ankara focuses on economic cooperation with African countries. Although Turkey, one of the world's 20 largest economies, is interested in Africa's resources, it also attaches great importance to other types of ties. In particular, we are talking about promoting the export of various goods, primarily consumer goods.

Turkey supplies Africa with various types of goods-from medicines to building materials, household appliances, machinery, equipment and metallurgical products. Turkish construction companies, which are active contractors all over ^the world4, have also played a prominent role in Africa in recent years.

Turkish contractors have completed hundreds of construction projects worth $ 26.8 billion over the entire period of their work in Africa, including $ 13 billion in 2006-2008. ⁵ They built roads, government buildings, hydroelectric power plants, industrial facilities, utilities, etc. In 2005-2008 alone, Turkish construction companies completed $ 10 billion worth of contract work. Turkish contractors were also active in Algeria. However, in recent years, Turkish companies have also started operating in other African countries - Nigeria, Kenya, Sierra Leone, Djibouti, Gambia, Ghana, Ethiopia, Sudan, Tanzania, Egypt, etc.

Turkey's trade turnover with African countries has been growing rapidly in recent years (see chart). In 1990-2008, it grew 8-fold - from $ 2.1 billion to $ 16.8 billion, slightly decreasing in 2009 to $ 15.9 billion. (Hereinafter, the source of foreign trade data is the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Trade.) At the same time, foreign trade turnover has been increasing at a particularly rapid pace since 2003, when the "Strategy for Trade and Investment Promotion in Africa" was adopted, which includes various aspects for the formation of institutional infrastructure in economic relations with the AF-

Turkey's trade turnover with Africa

Compiled according to the Turkish Ministry of Foreign Trade - http://www.dtm.gov.tr/dtmadmiri/upload/EAD/IstatistikDb/Eko04-ing.xls

⁶ However, the share of North African countries has declined and the share of the rest of the continent has increased.

Turkish exports to Africa increased significantly , from $ 0.75 billion in 1990 to $ 10.2 billion in 2009. It has increased particularly rapidly since 2003, particularly in Black African countries. If in North Africa it increased 11.5 times, then in the rest of Africa-almost 27 times. (For a list of the largest importers of Turkish goods, see table 1.)

Turkey is diversifying markets for its goods and services, especially after the onset of the financial crisis and difficulties with exports to the EU and the United States. The African market during the crisis allowed many small and medium-sized Turkish firms to survive. Rizanur Meral, head of the Turkish Confederation of Entrepreneurs and Industrialists (TUSKON), called trade with Africa "the elixir of life" for Turkish exporters. The leadership of the Turkish Foreign Trade Ministry considers Africa an "ideal market" for Turkish exports.⁷

The Black continent's share of Turkish exports rose from 5.8% in 1990 to 10% in 2009, while the share of imports fell from 6% to 4%. Higher growth in exports to Africa resulted in a $ 4.5 billion surplus in Turkey's trade with Africa in 2009. Prior to that, Turkey had a positive trade balance with Africa only in 1998 ($60 million) and in 2008 ($1.3 billion).

In 2009, Turkish exports to Africa totaled $ 10.2 billion. This is an increase of 12.3% compared to 2008. At the same time, due to the global crisis in 2009, there was a collapse in Turkish exports to other destinations. The overall decline in Turkey's exports was 22.6%, and to EU countries-26%. Turkish exports to North Africa grew by 27%. Exports to Egypt grew by 84%, amounting to more than $ 2.6 billion, to Libya-by 68% ($1.8 billion), Algeria-by 11% ($1.8 billion).

Turkish exports to sub-Saharan Africa fell by 17%. However, despite the fall in absolute export volumes to non-northern Africa, its share in Turkish exports also increased, reaching a record 2.7% in 2009. In 1996-2005, this indicator ranged from 0.7% to 1.5%, and in 2006-2008, it was 1.7%, 1.8%, and 2.4%, respectively.

Turkey's imports from Africa increased only 4.3 times in 1990-2009 , from $ 1.34 billion to $ 5.7 billion. The bulk of imports are from Algeria, South Africa, Egypt, Nigeria, Tunisia, Libya and Morocco (Table 2).

In the 1990s, Turkey started buying hydrocarbons from African countries. She became an importer-

Table 1

Countries to which Turkish exports totaled $ 100 million or more in 2009 (ranked by export volume as of 2008)

Source: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Trade.

export liquefied natural gas (LNG) from Algeria and Nigeria. In 2002-2007, Algeria's LNG imports averaged 3.6 billion cubic meters. The share of imports from these two African countries in Turkey's total gas imports has been declining in recent years, from 28% in 2002 to ¹³% in 2007.8 due to an increase in imports from Russia, as well as from Iran and Azerbaijan.

Algeria and Nigeria accounted for almost half of Turkey's imports from Africa in 2009, and together with South Africa-two-thirds. Oil products are imported from Libya.

The volume of Turkish imports from Africa in 2009 decreased by 27%, amounting to $ 5.7 billion. Imports from North African countries were particularly reduced-by 33% (to $ 3.5 billion). Imports from non-northern Africa fell by 14% (to $ 2.16 billion).

Despite the growth of trade turnover with Black Africa in recent years, most of Turkey's trade with African countries still falls on the countries of the north of the continent, with which Turkey has long-standing relations.

Almost all of them were visited by Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

Turkish authorities and entrepreneurs believe that there is a significant potential for a significant increase in trade turnover with Africa. Turkey's trade turnover with African countries is expected to reach about $ 50 billion by 2013.9 Sub-Saharan countries have particularly great potential, according to Turks.

Turkey conducts regular exchanges of economic delegations with African countries. The number of flights from Turkey to African megacities is growing. Fairs and exhibitions of Turkish companies and goods are constantly held. For example, in December 2009, one of the largest construction materials and equipment fairs of Turkish companies in East Africa was held in Kenya.

A legal framework for economic relations has been established with more than 40 countries. Turkey has established "joint economic committees"with many African countries. Free trade agreements have been signed with a number of countries.

TUSKON regularly organizes business summits. Several thousand Turkish and African businessmen from almost all countries of Africa participate in them. These events, according to the head of the Turkish Foreign Trade Department T. Kayalar, allowed Turkish entrepreneurs to establish business all over the continent-from Senegal to Tanzania.¹⁰

The Turkish-African Chamber has been established, where Turkey is represented by the Union of Chambers of Commerce and Commodity Exchanges (TOVB), and Africa by the Union of African Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Agriculture & Professions (UACCIAP).

Tens of thousands of Turkish entrepreneurs are already active in Africa. Cooperation with African countries is also actively developing at the level of Turkish regions.

Turkish companies are trying to find their niche in trade with Africa. They claim that they offer Africa, fed up with cheap, low-quality goods produced in China.-

Table 2

Countries that imported more than $ 100 million to Turkey in 2009 (ranked by import volume as of 2008)

Source: Turkish Ministry of Foreign Trade.

For example, products that are close in quality to European standards, but at lower prices.

The visit of Turkish President A. Gul to Kenya and Tanzania in February 2009, where Gul opened the Turkish Embassy, made a great contribution to the development of Turkey's relations with African countries. He was accompanied by 120 businessmen. The visit also had a political aspect. Turkey thanked African countries for supporting Ankara's bid for a seat on the UN Security Council. In October 2008, Turkey was elected a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the first time in 47 years.

Turkish ministers, who are always accompanied by representatives of construction companies, technical consultants and other firms offering specific contracts, regularly visit African countries. In October 2009, the Minister of Foreign Trade of Turkey Z. Caglayan toured Africa, visiting Libya, Egypt, Algeria and South Africa. During the trip, he said that he intends to visit all the countries of the continent in order to help increase the volume of Turkish exports.

ANKARA HUBS

In its strategy towards Africa, Turkey identifies certain countries as" hubs "("gates") for penetration into the continent's macro-regions (western, eastern, southern, northern and central).

Ethiopia (with a population of almost 80 million), Sudan and Kenya are considered as the" gateway " to the countries of North-East and East Africa.

The trade turnover with Ethiopia was $ 264 million in 2009 (compared to $ 40 million in 2002). At the same time, Turkish exports amounted to $ 229 million. According to Ankara, bilateral economic relations with this country have significant prospects. In the near future, it is planned to increase the volume of trade turnover to $ 0.5 billion.¹¹ In February 2005, Prime Minister of Ethiopia Meles Zenawi visited Turkey, and in March, Prime Minister of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan paid a return visit to Ethiopia. Ethiopian Foreign Minister Seyum Mesfin visited Turkey twice (in 2000 and 2009). In December 2008, a Turkish trade delegation visited Ethiopia and held talks with the country's Prime Minister and Minister of Trade and Industry, as well as with regional authorities. In January 2009, a Turkish delegation headed by the Minister of Transport B. Yildirim visited Ethiopia. A number of textile factories in the country are owned by Turkish investors. Ethiopia and Turkey are discussing the possibility of building a railway in Ethiopia.

By 2012, Turkey plans to increase its trade turnover with Sudan (over 40 million people) to 1 billion. In 2008 - $ 243 million, including Turkish exports of $ 234 million ¹³, in 2009 - $ 250 million 14). President Omar al-Bashir visited Turkey in early 2008, and President Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited Sudan in 2006. In October 2009, Turkish Minister of Agriculture M. Eker visited Sudan for the second time together with 150 entrepreneurs. There are about 80 Turkish companies and more than 2 thousand Turkish entrepreneurs operating in Sudan. Turkish investment in the Sudanese economy totaled $ 115 million. ¹⁵

The" gateway " to the countries of the East African Community (East African Community), whose combined population is more than 100 million people, is considered Kenya (population of 40 million people). In 2008, Turkey's trade turnover with Kenya amounted to $ 246 million, of which $ 233 million was accounted for by Turkish exports. President Gul's visit to the country in February 2009 was intended to play a major role in the development of Turkish-Kenyan relations. In Kenya Gul

signed dozens of agreements. Moreover, they concerned not only trade and economy, but also aviation, healthcare, etc. Turkey will invest in the production of textiles, agricultural machinery, construction, tourism, pharmaceuticals, and import various products from Kenya. It is noteworthy that the Turkish Ambassador to Kenya is the former head of the Department of Foreign Trade T. Kayalar.

Egypt is considered the" gateway " to the North African region, as well as to the Middle East and the Persian Gulf countries. In 2009, Turkey's trade turnover with Egypt amounted to $ 3.2 billion, and in the next three years it will exceed $ 10 billion. Turkish investment in the Egyptian economy totaled $ 2 billion, and 250 Turkish firms employ 50,000 people in ^the country16.

In the south of the continent, the "gateway" is South Africa (50 million people), with which diplomatic relations were established in 1991. In 2005, Prime Minister R. T. Erdogan visited South Africa for a 4-day visit, signing several agreements. This country is Turkey's largest trading partner in Sub-Saharan Africa. Turkish direct investment in South Africa is just under $ 100 million. There are dozens of Turkish companies operating in South Africa, and a number of South African companies operating in Turkey. In 2003-2008, Turkey's exports to South Africa increased more than 10-fold , from $ 121 million to $ 1.24 billion. Turkey exports cars, tractors, etc. to South Africa.

In the west of the African continent, Turkey considers Senegal and Nigeria (150 million people) as "gates". In 2008, Senegalese President Abdoulaye Wade visited Turkey. In 1996, Turkey's exports to Senegal amounted to only $ 5 million, and in 2008-already $ 90 million. At the same time, Senegalese exports to Turkey amounted to only $ 2 million in 2008.

The volume of trade turnover between Turkey and Nigeria exceeds $ 0.5 billion. In addition to LNG, Turkey imports fruits, cocoa, leather, and chemical products from Nigeria. Turkey's exports to Nigeria consist of various food products, metallurgy products, electrical appliances, etc.

In the center of Africa, the "gateway" for Turkey is considered DR Congo, which was visited in March 2010 by Turkish President A. Gul, who signed dozens of agreements with the leadership of this country.

INVESTORS AND INVESTMENTS

Turkey's relations with Africa are developing not only in the sphere of trade. There is a diversification of economic relations. Turkish representatives emphasize that they do not consider Africa only as a supplier of raw materials and a market for goods, but are interested in full-scale cooperation, including in the field of technology, facilitating access of African goods to world markets, developing the continent, etc.

Turkish entrepreneurs are actively investing in African countries. There are hundreds of Turkish firms among the investors.

Dozens of Turkish companies have invested in Egypt's textile industry, taking advantage of the country's advantages (low wages, low electricity costs). Among the largest investors are such Turkish holdings and industrial groups as SABANCI, HEDEF (pharmaceuticals), EVYAP (soaps, gels, shampoos), AKKOK (synthetics), TAHA (clothing).

One of the aspects of the new quality of economic cooperation is the opening of Turkish industrial zones in Egypt. Such a zone was opened in October 2009 near Cairo by Turkish President A. Gul.

Turkey's direct investment in Sub-Saharan Africa lags far behind that of North Africa, but has been growing rapidly in recent years. Currently, it amounts to more than $ 0.5 billion. ¹⁷ At the same time, investments are made not only in the largest states that have long-standing relations with Turkey, but also in countries such as Guinea, Burkina Faso, Benin, Central African Republic, Angola, Malawi, Mozambique.

The activities of Turkish companies in Africa are very diverse. Turks build roads, invest in infrastructure, chemical industry, agriculture and animal husbandry, buy up land, grow cotton, tobacco, etc., create furniture manufacturing enterprises, and perform work in the field of electric power. For example, in September 2009, the Turkish firm Emek Elektrik won a tender in Nigeria for more than $ 2 million for the implementation of electricity generation works (construction of transformers for the state grid company of Nigeria). Turkish companies hope to receive new multi-million dollar contracts in this country, which is experiencing a shortage of electricity and is implementing a large program for the reconstruction of networks and the construction of new power plants.

Turkish companies and local labor are actively used. The low level of wages in most African countries makes it attractive to move a number of industries that do not require skilled labor there. The goods that are produced by firms with Turkish investments are exported to other African countries.

The number of flights between Turkey and African countries is increasing. As of mid-2009, there were 90 weekly flights from Turkey to African megacities (Rabat, Algeria, Tunis, Cairo, Khartoum, Addis Ababa, Tri-

poli, Lagos, Cape Town, Johannesburg, Nairobi). In the coming years, it is planned to increase the number of flights to existing destinations, as well as start flights to other cities in Africa.

A serious institutional framework is being created in Turkey's relations with African countries - agreements are being signed on trade aspects, on the avoidance of double taxation, on mutual protection of investments, etc.

POLITICS WITHOUT POLITICS

To increase its political role in the world, Ankara is actively seeking the support of African countries, offering economic dividends in return. The Turkish authorities regularly declare their moral responsibility for Africa. Pragmatic Ankara keeps repeating that it is not only interested in economic cooperation in its relations with African countries. At the same time, Turkey defiantly avoids politics. Thus, Ankara, despite the position of the West, cooperates with Sudan.

The support of African countries helped Turkey to become a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. Turkish leaders say they will promote Africa's interests at the UN.

Currently, Turkey has 13 embassies and more than 20 honorary consulates in Africa. In the near future, it is planned to open 15 more embassies in Mozambique, Chad, Ivory Coast, Cameroon, Ghana, Central African Republic, Uganda, Burkina Faso, Niger, Angola, Zambia, Madagascar, Mali and other countries. 13 African countries have embassies in Turkey, three of them opened recently. Their number is likely to double in the next few years.

Turkey also actively cooperates with pan-African structures. In April 2005 It has been granted observer status in the African Union (AU). The Turkish Embassy in Addis Ababa has also become a representative office in the Union. In January 2008, the AU declared Turkey its strategic partner (before Turkey, China, India, and Japan received a similar status). Turkey cooperates with continental and regional African economic structures, in particular, participates in projects of the African Development Bank.

In addition, various Turkish organizations are implementing numerous projects in Africa. The Turkish Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) operates in almost 40 countries in Africa, with 3 permanent offices on the continent-in Ethiopia, Sudan and Senegal18.

Turkey also participates in projects of international organizations in Africa - the World Bank, WHO, the United Nations Human Settlements Program (UN HABITAT), the Red Cross.

Turkish authorities and businessmen also provide humanitarian aid to African countries. Millions of dollars are allocated for this purpose. At the same time, Turkey's humanitarian aid does not consist only in food supplies. Turkish specialists provide significant technical support and carry out specific activities that improve living conditions in many areas. In particular, in a number of countries, thanks to Turkish firms, wells were dug, and thousands of people got access to water. A Turkish field hospital operated in Darfur (Sudan).

In various African countries, Turkish doctors provide assistance to the local population. For example, in Nigeria, as part of the Nigerian-Turkish mission of free surgical care, doctors from the Turkish University of Gazi Hospital performed various operations (these activities were carried out under the auspices of TIKA). Medical equipment used in operations, Turkish doctors handed over as humanitarian aid to Nigeria. Turkish doctors also provide short-term training to local doctors during their field missions. Online consultations are conducted between African hospitals and Turkish university hospitals.

"SOFT POWER"

Although the economy is the mainstay of Turkish-African relations, Turkey also attaches great importance to education.

Over the past two decades, hundreds of educational institutions of the organization of Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish religious figure, have been opened in various countries, primarily in the Balkans, Central Asia and the Middle East (in some countries his works are banned as extremist). They are now active in more than 80 countries. In recent years, these institutions have also started to open in Africa. Their languages of instruction are English and Turkish, as well as the languages of the countries where they are located.

Gulen's schools, which Turkey has put on an international wanted list and lives in the United States, but is considered one of the spiritual mentors of the leadership of the currently ruling AKP in Turkey, are one of the most important levers of Turkey's "soft power", educating future elites in various countries in the spirit of love for Turkey and for Turkish culture.

These schools operate in almost all major African countries (Nigeria, Egypt, Kenya, Tanzania, etc.) and receive the highest level of support from the Turkish authorities. Thus, the Turkish school in Nairobi (Isik Lisesi) was opened by Turkish President A. Gul during his visit to Kenya.

Turkish schools for a short period of time (about 10 years) in the countries of Africa, they have already managed to become major educational institutions and

they have gained a huge reputation among the local elite. In Tanzania, the first Turkish school was opened in 1998, with 20 students starting their studies. Currently, the country has 4 Turkish schools and 1.4 thousand students. students, mostly children of the elite. One of them is attended by the daughter of the President of Tanzania, Jakaya Kikwete, the son of the Minister of Defense, Hussein Mwini, the grandson of the Minister of Education, and others. ¹⁹

In addition, Turkey annually provides scholarships and grants for the education of Africans. So, only in Tanzania, 250 people received diplomas from Turkish universities.

The successful experience of Turkish schools in Africa and their growing popularity among the local elite led to the creation of higher-level educational institutions. In December 2009, a Turkish university was launched in the Nigerian capital of Abuja. It was established on the basis of the current Nigerian Turkish International College, established in 1998, but later opened its branches in five other major cities of Nigeria. In the first year, more than 400 students, including about 40 people from Turkey, started studying in 10 departments of three faculties (natural science, Engineering and Management). The University will train not only Nigerians, but also citizens of other African countries. ²⁰ Faculty of Medicine is also planned to be opened in 2011 - 2012.

POLITICAL ISSUES AND PRAGMATISM

Turkey, as already noted, has no political problems with African countries. This circumstance is used by the Turkish authorities as a significant asset for the further development of relations.

Ankara's main foreign policy problems have historically been centered around the Kurdish issue. The Kurdish problem of Turkey, which is the result of the Kemalist project to build a homogeneous national state of the Turks and deny the very existence of the Kurds, represents for Turkey the most serious complex challenge of a permanent nature. This problem affects the entire range of activities of the Turkish state - domestic and foreign policy, socio-economic development, etc. - and has, in fact, existential significance for it.

The countries of Africa were not subjects of the Kurdish issue. However, even here Turkish diplomacy faced certain problems.

Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi is a unique example in modern world politics, never questioning the need to create a Kurdish state. He regularly makes statements about the right of Kurds not just to self-determination, but to create their own state, without fear of spoiling relations with states that include parts of ethnogeographic Kurdistan, including Turkey.

So, in October 1996, during the visit of the then Prime Minister of Turkey N. Erbakan to Libya, the Turks, in their favorite style, suggested that the Libyan side sign a joint statement condemning the "terrorist activities of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)". Muammar Gaddafi, to the surprise of the Turkish delegation, said that he did not consider the struggle of the Kurds to be terrorist, noting that the Kurds should have their own state.

In December 2007, during his visit to Paris, Gaddafi met with a delegation from Iraqi Kurdistan, headed by the representative of the President of Kurdistan, Dilshad Barzani. At this meeting, Gaddafi once again stressed his position on the Kurds ' right to self-determination, noting:: "I have always been with the Kurdish people, never changing my position. Because of this position of support for all four parts of Kurdistan, I have often been criticized by Turkey, Syria and other states. But I have said and repeat that the Kurdish people live on their own land and have the right to self-determination."²¹. Gaddafi also regularly expressed support for the PKK leader, Abdullah Ocalan, who is serving a life sentence in Turkey.

However, Libya's support for the right of Kurds, including Turkish ones, to self-determination did not turn Turkey away from it. Ankara acts in a purely pragmatic way in its relations with Libya, appreciating the role of the Libyan market and realizing that if Turkey leaves it, this North African country will easily transfer contracts to companies from other countries. Therefore, in recent years, Ankara has preferred not to raise the problem of "PKK terrorism"with Libya. This was confirmed by the visit of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Libya in November 2009.

Representatives of the South African leadership, which came to power in the country as a result of the victory over apartheid, have traditionally expressed great sympathy for the Turkish Kurds. Head of the PKK A. Ocalan is often compared in South Africa to the leader of the African National Congress (ANC), Nelson Mandela, ²² and the struggle of Kurds for their rights in Turkey to the anti-apartheid movement.²³ In November 2009, during a visit to South Africa by the Minister of Foreign Trade, Z. Several members of the South African parliament at a meeting with the Turkish delegation compared the policy of the Turkish authorities towards the Kurds with apartheid, and the head of the PKK with the legendary leader of the ANC. Member of the Turkish delegation Member of the Turkish Parliament from the ruling AKP,

Mir Dengir Firat, a Kurd by birth, tried unsuccessfully to convince his South African colleagues of the fallacy of such comparisons. ²⁴ A month later, Leila Zana, a former member of the Turkish Parliament who served many years in prison for expressing her Kurdish identity, visited South Africa and was accepted by leading public organizations in the country, as well as representatives of the legislature.

As in the case of Libya, understanding the importance of trade, economic and other relations with South Africa, as well as the lack of influence on these states, Turkey is trying to avoid this difficult problem, not to stir it up. Moreover, neither Libya nor South Africa interfere in the internal affairs of Turkey, do not take any actions, but only declare their position. In addition, the current Turkish authorities themselves declare the need to solve the long-standing Kurdish problem, realizing and claiming that the Kemalist policy aimed at forcible assimilation and extermination of Kurds was unsuccessful and led to numerous victims and losses.

* * *

So, today we can already talk about the systematic penetration of another power into Africa. Turkey is becoming an active player on the African continent, considering it an important trade and economic partner. Faced with fierce competition in other traditional markets, Turkey sees Africa as a very promising area for its economic expansion. It pursues a comprehensive policy for Africa, including trade, economic, political, educational and other aspects.

Turkey's economic expansion is aimed not only at the supply of goods, but also at the creation of joint ventures and new production facilities, introduction into the construction sector, implementation of engineering and agricultural projects. Turkey is now represented in Africa in both large, medium and small businesses. Turkish educational institutions and regular targeted humanitarian aid play an important role in creating pro-Turkish sympathies in African countries, which subsequently bring economic dividends.

It seems that such a policy, including the implementation of numerous specific, including small-scale projects, will be more successful than an attempt to implement a few, but large-scale projects, including those related only to the trade in specific goods (weapons, hydrocarbons, etc.).

In this sense, many countries have a lot to learn from Turkey in its African policy, namely realism, pragmatism, initiative, entrepreneurial risk, creativity, etc.

^{Ibrahim Turkmen.} 1 'Africa Strategy' hits the bull's-eye // Today's Business. A Special Supplement by Today's Zaman fir TUSKON's 3rd Turkey-Africa foreign trade bridge. May 13 - 15, 2008.

² The Manavgat hydro complex was built several years ago to sell water to Israel. However, Turkey and Israel have not been able to agree on a price. In addition, the deterioration of political relations between the two countries also played a significant role.

³ For Erdogan's visit to Libya, see: Turkey, Libya start building partnership in Africa / / Today's Zaman, 26.11.2009; Turkey, Libya to expand together into Africa / / Hurriyet Daily News, 25.11.2009.

⁴ In 2008 They have completed $ 24 billion worth of work abroad. The list of 225 largest international contractors prepared by Engineering News Record included 31 Turkish companies in 2008. The largest of them, ENKA, took 37th place.

^{Kayalar T.} 5 Turkish Trade and Investment Promotion Strategy toward Africa // Harvard Africa Policy Journal, Volume 5, 2008 - 2009, p. 88. См. также - http://www.hksafricapolicyjournal.com/sites/default/files/kayalar.pdf

⁶ See also: Kayalar T. Op. cit., p. 85-88.

⁷ Turkey's trade with African countries on rise // Today's Zaman, 25.11.2008; Turkish-African trade gets boost from strategy // Today's Zaman, 26.11.2008.

⁸ Author's calculations using information from the Turkish pipeline company BOTAS.

⁹ Turkey boosts business ties with Africa // Today's Zaman, 23.02.2009.

^{Abdulhamit Yildiz.} 10 Turkish investment in Africa to hit $ 1 billion // Today's Zaman, 15.10.2007.

^{Kerim Bald.} 11 Ethiopian ambassador: Ethiopia does not need political reform // Today's Zaman, 25.03.2008.

¹² Sudanese official praises Erdopan for Davos walkout // Today's Zaman, 05.02.2009.

¹³ Data from the Department of Foreign Trade.

¹⁴ Sudan offers great opportunities for Turkish investors // Today's Zaman, 02.03.2010.

^{Arif Bayraktar.} 15 Sudan lifting visa requirements for Turkish citizens to boost trade // Today's Zaman, 21.10.2009.

^{Cumali Onal, Zafer Ozcan.} 16 Turkey, Egypt eye $10 billion in mutual trade in 3 years // Today's Zaman, 21.01.2010; Visa requirement between Turkey and Egypt must be ended, Minister Ergun // Today's Zaman, 19.01.2010.

¹⁷ Address by H.E. Ali Babacan, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey to the group of African countries, New York, 24 July 2008 - http://africa.mfa.gov.tr/speech-by-h_e_-babaca-to-the-group-of-african-countries-at-the-un_-2 4-july-2008.en.mfa (сайт МИД Турции).

^{Ozkan M.} 18 Turkey Discovers Africa: Implications and Prospects / SETA Policy Brief. SETA Foundation for Political, Economic, and Social Research - Ankara, September 2008. N 22, p. 5 - 6.

¹⁹ Turkish Schools in Tanzania Hold Graduation Ceremony // Today's Zaman, 30.10.2009.

²⁰ http://www.ntnuniversity.net

²¹ Qedafi: Ez dibejim bila kurd serbixwe bibin u partiyen kurdan daxwaza federaliye dikin (Gaddafi: I support Kurdish independence, and the Kurdish parties demand federalism) - www.nefel.com, 14.12.2007 (Turkish).

²² See, for example, the opinion of N. Mandela's lawyer Essa Musa: Safiye Alagas, Omer Celik. 'Mandela'da, Ocalan'da halkenen ozgurlugu icin mucadele etti' / / Gundem, 07.04.2009. N. Mandela and A. Ocalan are often compared by Kurdish politicians. For example, a member of the Turkish Parliament, A. Turk, said this while speaking at the celebration of Nowruz in Diyarbakir (Turkey) on March 21, 2009.

²³ See, for example, the opinion of the famous South African religious figure, Nobel Peace Prize winner (1984) Desmond Tutu: Dive Dewleta Tirkiye Ber Bi Civilbune Here // www.rudaw.net, 04.02.2010 (Turkish).

^{Deniz Gucer.} 24 Afrikali vekillerin 'Ocalan' meraki // Aksam, 07.11.2009.

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