Bilateral relations between Namibia and Türkiye have been growing from strength to strength since the country opened an embassy in Windhoek in 2012.
This was said by the Deputy-Minister of Education, Arts and Culture, Faustina Caley, at Türkiye's 99th independence anniversary in Windhoek.
Relations between the two countries date back to the early 1960s when Namibia's struggle for independence began.
Türkiye was one of the founding members of the UN Council for Namibia.
The country made significant contributions to the UN Namibia Fund and the UN Institute for Namibia.
Relations between Türkiye and Namibia gained momentum, with trade volume in 2019.
The trade volume between Namibia and Türkiye in 2019 was roughly N$211 million; exports from Türkiye were N$170 million and imports to that country were N$43 million.
The charge d'affaires of Türkiye, Bulent Bulut, addressed the audience at the 99th independence anniversary.
"I commemorate with gratitude once again Ghazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the founder of our Republic, alongside our heroes who crowned our War of Independence with victory and the patriotic members of the Grand National Assembly. I wish the mercy of Allah upon our holy martyrs who lost their lives as if they were stepping into a rosary for the sake of our independence, and I commemorate our veterans with gratitude. We pursue our uninterrupted struggle to elevate the Republic of Türkiye, which we founded by making heavy sacrifices 99 years ago under very difficult conditions."
Deputy Minister of Education, Arts and Culture, Faustina Caley, says the two countries have a strong bond of solidarity and partnership growing.
Under the Turkish Co-operation and Co-ordination Agency, the country has funded a number of projects in education, agriculture, health, and women's empowerment programs.
"In total, Tika has approximately 90 projects in Namibia, something for which Namibia is sincerely grateful. These projects are far-ranging and include, among others, the construction of an 8.5-kilometre underground water pipeline to connect Onanmwaindi and Okangwayona villages in the Ohangwena region. In collaboration with the office of the regional governor and the hospitality and tourism department at the Namibia University of Science and Technology, they provided tourism training to approximately 20 academicians and hotel staff."