Turkish president Abdullah Gul holds trade talks in Nigeria

ABUJA (AFP) – Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan and his Turkish counterpart Abdullah Gul held trade talks on Friday following a summit of leaders from Muslim nations.

The bilateral discussions took place after Thursday's Developing Eight (D-8) summit, which Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad also attended.

Few details were provided in a statement on the meeting between Jonathan and Gul, whose country has been at the centre of controversy recently due to its damaged relations with Israel over the Jewish state's deadly raid on a Gaza-bound aid ship.

Nine pro-Palestinian activists -- eight Turks and a dual Turkish-US national -- were killed in the raid in May.

Gul said he wanted improved relations with Nigeria, which currently holds the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council.

He hopes to schedule a trade meeting between both countries in September in his country, according to the statement.

Turkey wants to increase its investment in Nigeria, particularly in energy and construction, it said. Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation with 150 million people, faces major fuel and electricity shortages despite its oil wealth.

"Our job as statesmen is to provide the opportunity and climate for improved trade relations between our countries," the statement quoted Gul as saying.

The Istanbul-based D-8 groups Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey, with a total population of 930 million.

News Date: 13/07/2010
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