resource is there. We see Rwanda as a gateway to central Africa.
What is your vision for Rwanda and Turkey-Rwanda relations 5-10 years from now? Within the next two or three months, you will see that there will be some major investments by Turkish companies in Rwanda, especially in the energy and construction sectors.
Energy is a major issue everywhere in the world and especially in countries like Rwanda. Hakan Peat, one of our companies, will soon be completing a $ 250 energy project in Rwanda, which is expected to produce at least 80 mega watts in the next two years. We also have approximately 10 agreements that we are still negotiating with Rwanda which, when signed, will create a framework for our bilateral relations. In the near future we hope to jump-start our economic relations with Rwanda in a very strong way.
Rwanda can export a lot to Turkey and we can export a lot to Rwanda as well. Whatever is on the menu for Rwanda to export, we can import. For instance, the Turks are very strong coffee drinkers and Rwanda’ s coffee is one of the best in the world. We also drink tea; Turkey’ s per capita consumption of tea is one of the highest in the world. Rwanda can also export vegetables and fruits to Turkey. So far a lot of fruits that Rwanda produces are the same we import from Latin America, which is clearly a waste of time and money. It’ s hard to imagine that at 52, the best pineapple I have ever eaten is produced in Rwanda!
Rwanda is a very small country; do you think that it also has a potential to give something to the world? Of course. At the beginning people were talking about Rwanda as the Switzerland of Africa because of its topography, which is God-given, but now it is referred to as the Singapore of Africa, which is more about a place which is man-made.
Rwanda has no mineral resources like oil and gas to offer but then, the world has changed now; it’ s no longer entirely about what you produce but also the services you can offer. Rwanda can be the Dubai of Africa, offering various services to the world – banking, transport, ICT, etc. All Rwanda has to do is to educate its people and also ensure political stability. The country should not rely on agricultural products like tea and coffee.
How do you feel that Turkey is represented in Africa? Is there anything, as far as Turkish Foreign Policy is concerned, that you would like to be done differently? Our relations with Africa are now growing very rapidly. Lately we have more than tripled the number of our embassies in Africa; now we are present in 39 countries on the continent. Now is the time for us to have good economic relations with Africa. Turkey is currently the 17th biggest economy in the world and almost 90 per cent of our exports are manufactured goods. However, not only do we need markets for our industries, but we also need to import materials so that we can manufacture them in Turkey. That aside, we also want to invest here. Turkish Airlines, for instance, has the highest number of flights to Africa compared to any other airline. People keep saying that Africa is a continent full of potential but we believe that it should not remain just that – a continent full of potential. I don’ t believe that Africa has anything less than the Chinese or the Europeans.
The only thing that is needed here is good governance.
In your opinion, what is the role of diplomacy in solving global problems? In international relations communication is very important and this communication is provided by the diplomats. This is not the 19th Century; we don’ t solve problems with wars but rather, we have to sit down and talk. If we fail to talk then the war will start. That implies that if the diplomats fail then war will start, which is not stuff for the 21st Century.
As an experienced person in public service, what knowledge would you share with young professionals intending to journey into the world of diplomacy? First of all you have to love and believe in your country. Diplomacy is not about cocktails and parties and moving from one country to another like most people tend to believe. The most important thing is that you have to have very good knowledge of your own country because your role is to promote it. You also have to read a lot because you have to always be aware of what is going on around you.
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