Ankara: Turkish Vice President Cevdet Yilmaz received Prime Minister of the Republic of the Congo Anatole Collinet Makosso at the Presidential Complex in Ankara on Monday. The meeting focused on expanding cooperation across various sectors such as defense, energy, mining, transportation, education, health, agriculture, and the environment, alongside discussions on regional and international developments.

According to Anadolu Agency, Yilmaz expressed his pleasure at hosting Makosso on his first official visit to Trkiye via a statement on X. He emphasized the rapid progress in bilateral ties and noted that the close friendship between the leaders of the two countries and their spouses has introduced a new dimension to their cooperation.

Yilmaz highlighted Trkiye's desire to enhance collaboration in military and security fields, welcoming the participation of Congolese Defense Minister Charles Richard Mondjo in the IDEF 2025 defense fair in Istanbul. He remarked that Mondjo's meetings with Turkish National Defense Minister Yasar Guler and Defense Industry Secretary Haluk Gorgun have strengthened defense ties and expressed readiness to host a Congolese delegation for further discussions on cooperation.

Bilateral trade between the two nations has seen significant growth, doubling from $62 million in 2019 to $121 million in 2024, although Yilmaz noted that the current level still falls short of its full potential. He underscored Trkiye's support for Turkish investments in Congo, showing satisfaction with the trust shown in Turkish firms and highlighting potential cooperation in hydrocarbons, mining, agriculture, and airport development.

In the energy and mining sectors, Yilmaz mentioned Trkiye's aim to deepen ties with Congo, identifying strong potential for collaboration in petroleum, natural gas, and renewable energy sectors. Turkish companies are keen to play a larger role in Congo's energy sector and are prepared to assist in improving electricity infrastructure.

Additionally, Turkish language teaching will begin next year in pilot high schools in Brazzaville, Congo's capital, with plans to expand education and scholarship programs, further strengthening the cultural and educational ties between the two countries.