In today's article, we will talk about what steps an Rwandan should follow when he/she wants to do business in Turkey. Turkey is the target supplier for many Rwandans who wish to do business with its production capacity, competitive prices and high quality products, and ease of transportation.

Rwanda-Turkey trade, which was especially active with Turkey's African expansion in the early 2000s, has increased even more with the daily flights of Turkish Airlines in recent years to nearly all of the African countries.

So what steps should be followed to procure products from Turkey? First of all, the appropriate supplier should be identified and contacted via internet or through trade fairs. The situation I encounter frequently; Rwandans come to Turkey to find suppliers just by taking a plane. Without making a propriate appointment. Many would rather schedule a break-in visit to the supplier they are interested in.

To be honest, I have never found this method useful. My advice to Rwandans who have such an intention is to come to Turkey after an exensive plan of their business trip. You risk wasting your valuable time and resources if you have not made those contacts ahead of time.

Think about it, the executive of the company you are interested in went on leave the week you came to Turkey and you cannot meet him.  In this case, your travel may turn into a financial loss for you.

For those travelling to Turkey for the first time, once you get off the plane in Istanbul, I suggest that you make the money exchange process, if you must. I recommend that you exchange your money in an office in the city centre to avoid being overcharged by those seeking commissions.

In order to establish a better communication with the taxi drivers, I suggest that you carry the address in writing with you. Traffic is also very heavy in Istanbul, so make your appointments with this in mind.

Since Turkey has stated its biggest target in exports as the African market, I guarantee that you will be welcomed with great interest by almost all manufacturers. It is entirely in your hands to turn this situation into a great advantage.

I would like to state that you have a strong hand for price negotiation, sample supply and fast service. Mentally, Turkish people are close to Rwandan mindset. This may cause the commercial bridge between the two cultures to turn into an emotional bond over time.

To give an example myself, as a person who has been trading with Rwanda for many years, I have established a very close relationship with my business partner in Rwanda, and I feel like home every time I visit Kigali thanks to him.

I enjoy a smooth friendship with my Rwandan business partner, both in terms of business perspective, actions taken together in business, and family ties.

My heartfelt advice to all Rwandans who want to do business with Turkey here; Let Turkey always be your second home. With the proximity of the Turkish people to Rwandans, the suitability of the products to the market, and the provision of fruitful commercial conditions, this beautiful country can be a supply paradise for Rwandans.

However, before deciding to purchase a product from Turkey, you should first seek offers from a few different companies. Making price comparisons will always be an important step to buy the best product at a lower cost. It should be noted that the best money is earned when making a purchase.

It does not take long to ship the purchased products to Rwanda using a container. Generally, the container will arrive at the Dar es Salaam port within 30-35 days of leaving Istanbul. From there, the goods will be in Kigali within 15 days.

In short, finding the supplier, requesting the sample, making the relevant visits, placing the order, making the payment and the process of arriving the goods from Turkey to Rwanda can take approximately 75-90 days to complete.

On the other hand, both the government of Turkey and the export associations in the country support the export operations of Rwanda. For this reason, even freight incentives were given to Turkish exporters in the past years. There is no extra customs duty between Rwanda and Turkey, which facilitates commercial transactions.

Turkey is always the biggest candidate to be the biggest supplier of food products, textiles, industrial machinery and construction materials to Rwandan people. It should not be forgotten that our time is our greatest wealth. Make sure to plan your business trips to Turkey in the best way in advance and make your appointments.

As of the beginning of July 2021, Covid 19 measures in Turkey have been relaxed with the increase in vaccination. All offices and industrial establishments continue their full-performance activities. For this reason, Rwandans will not face any quarantine or restrictions when they come to Turkey.

As a conclusion, for all your commercial transactions, Turkey can be your home in Europe with peace of mind. Turkey welcomes all Rwandan business people with great interest and warm welcome.

The author can be reached at cperdar@gmail.com