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Victoria Ruzvidzo Business Focus
Over the years I have regarded Turkey as a quiet and almost insignificant player in the world economy but my recent trip to that country debunked these notions and revealed that the East European country is a real powerhouse, ranking quite highly on many fronts.
Turkey is actually a giant that is on a roll in terms of strengthening its domestic economy and penetrating foreign markets.
In fact, with a more than US$1 trillion gross domestic product, it is Europe’s seventh largest economy and the 16th in the world. It has a population of 75 million people.

More still, is home to the world’s second largest construction export sector with billions of dollars worth of projects being undertaken worldwide. In fact, the total value of projects undertaken by Turkish contractors in 93 countries has reached US$205 billion.

The Turkish clothing industry is the sixth largest supplier in the world and the second in the European Union.
The country has more than 60 000 companies operating in its furniture industry, exporting billions of dollars worth of furniture to at least 173 countries. There is so much that can be said about its economy, which is evidently ticking sound as a mere one-minute perusal of its statistics would confirm. But what struck me the most is its aggressiveness on foreign markets and its hunger to do business with Africa particularly.

It is one country that sees immense potential on the continent, especially the fact that this potential is about to become a reality.
Africa is the next growth region. The World  Bank, the International Monetary Fund and many other analysts and commentators strongly believe that the global economy will soon be driven by Africa.

Like the strategic hawk it has become, Turkey appears to have been following developments in Africa and sees so much reason to up its game in this regard.

In fact, over the past nine years, business between the continent and Turkey has grown from US$4 billion to US$26 billion.
Such phenomenal growth is set to double within the next few years if the vibes coming out of the Turkey-Africa Women Entrepreneurs Trade Bridge and the Turkish Business Association General Assembly held last week are anything to go buy.

Zimbabwean women participated at the summit which brought together 300 women from 39 countries in Africa. At least 400 of their counterparts from the host country also attended.

Feedback from the group of women from Zimbabwe who attended the meetings were that  the growing relationship between Zimbabwe and Turkey would augur well for the economy.

The visit was an eye opener, business deals had been sealed while follow-ups would be made in other aspects.
Zimbabwean women, who have always come out as an enterprising lot, have already been importing clothes, textile, soft furnishings and other stuff from China but they are now taking the business to an even higher level.

The Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists of Turkey (Tuscon) has been organising various trade and investment missions into Africa and other continents.

Tuskon represents more than 55 00 businesses and 140 000 companies.
This profile speaks volumes about the level of engagement between Turkey and its potential markets.

“Tuskon’s strength and pioneering role in Turkish business community does not only come from its capacity in Turkey but also from its highly developed international structure,” said Tuskon as it brags about its business prowess.

The feedback from the business to business bi-lateral meetings between women from Africa and their Turkish peers and the factory visits organised for the women were that serious business deals had been entered into and more was coming. At least nine women from Zimbabwe took part at the Trade Bridge, a number that is set to increase when the next meeting is held later this year.

Turkish businesses have already expressed their desire to invest in this country in a big way.
What all this effectively means is that Zimbabwe should position itself strategically to maximise on the trade and investment opportunities being presented by Turkey.

The fact that Turkish businesses are keen to invest and trade on mutually agreed terms and conditions should augur well, given the fact that some of its peers in Europe always want things done at the pace and on their terms.

When things are not done their way they begin to cry wolf and yet business is about mutual agreements and mutual benefits.
Turkey obviously has a lot to gain from Zimbabwe and the rest of Africa and vice versa.

From my assessment, Turkey is indeed a country Zimbabwe should increasingly do business with as it seeks to grow its economy. This falls well in line with the Zimbabwe Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation.

We need to strike the iron while it is still hot. Lets ride on the positive current and take the country to better heights.
The Turkish themselves see so much value in this country.

The statement by Tuskon deputy secretary general for Africa and the Middle East said it all.
“Recent economic trends show that Zimbabwe is an important destination for investment and trade partnership with its abundant natural resources, progressive economic development and tremendous opportunities for potential investors.

“We consider Africa as a preferential continent to establish and strengthen economic relations and believe that there is much to share between Turkish and Zimbabwean business community.”

In God I Trust

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