DAKAR
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan visited the Goree Island, the symbol of slave trade in Africa. Erdogan on his third leg of Africa tour is now in Senegal.
Goree Island has been Erdogan's first stop in Senegal.
The Goree Island known as the slave trade symbol as according to sources approximately no more than a few hundred slaves per year departed from here for transportation to the Americas.
Erdogan was welcomed with local dance show, then went to a coupe of souvenir shops in the island.
Later on Erdogan visited the "house of slaves" and he received information about the history of the place.
Moreover, after his visit, he wrote down on a book of memoire that Turkey supports Senegal's awakening.
Turkish premier calls for increased trade with Senegal
Erdogan said Turkey was eager to boost trade relations with Senegal, adding that his country would continue to support the western African nation.
"The trade volume between our two countries was $159 million in 2011 and it was $130 million in 2012. Let's put the year 2015 as a target for ourselves to increase our trade volume to $250 million and make the necessary legal arrangements," Erdogan told a business forum meeting in Dakar, the last stop of his three-nation African tour following his visits in Gabon and Niger.
Erdogan called for a "new momentum" in the Turkish-Senegalese relations by laying the legal groundwork for investors and encourage businesspeople.
"We consider Dakar as an important gateway to Africa. There is a lot to do in terms of bilateral trade as well as cooperation in third countries," Erdogan said.
Erdogan said Turkey and Senegal could also cooperate in construction and defense sectors, adding that the two countries should establish in the shortest possible time a business council.
Trade volume should be increased
Erdogan and Senegal's President Macky Sall held a press conference following a tete-a-tete meeting.
Senegal was a model country in Africa with its cultural heritage and democratic values, Erdogan said.
The meeting with Senegal's president focused on economic, political, military, commercial and cultural issues as well as regional matters, he said.
Trade volume between the two countries was 130 million U.S. dollars at the end of 2012 and the figure should be increased, he said.
Senegal's President Sall said that there were deep-rooted relations between the two countries.
Sall said that he would like to thank Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA) for its efforts in his country.
Turkey was an island of democracy, stability and progress in the Middle East, he added.
