Charity ship for food aid that had come up during the Africa trip organized between 6-11 January 2013 with the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ERDOĞAN presiding set off on 11 May 2013 under the auspices of the Economy Minister Zafer ÇAĞLAYAN.

Within the framework of the “aid campaign” launched for West Africa under the auspices of our Economy Minister Zafer ÇAĞLAYAN, the charity ship farewell ceremony named “Charity Ship Sailing to West Africa”, attended by our Economy Minister Zafer ÇAĞLAYAN, was held on 11 May 2013, Saturday, at Mersin Port in the scope of the West Africa Humanitarian Aid Operation coordinated by the Ministry of Economy under the organization of Turkish Flour Yeast and Ingredients Promotion Group of the Central Anatolian Exporters Unions General Secretariat and Turkish Red Crescent.

The aid to West Africa that had come up during the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ERDOĞAN’s trip to Africa has been put into application. In the aftermath of the trade delegation visit to Gabon, Senegal and Niger between 06-11 January 2013 with the attendance of the Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ERDOĞAN and the Economy Minister Zafer ÇAĞLAYAN under the organization of the Ministry of Economy, extending aid to Niger,Mauritania, Senegal was added to agenda. After the contacts of the delegation, the aid planned to be extended from Turkey to West Africa was detailed.

Participating in the said aid organization, Turkish Flour Yeast and Ingredients Promotion Group organized the wheat flour aid. Approximately 3,000 tons of wheat flour was procured from a total of 25 exporters of wheat flour and 13 firms extending cash aid, and delivered to Turkish Red Crescent.

Wheat flour aid extended within this framework to Niger, one of the 3 countries covered by the West Africa Humanitarian Aid organization of Turkish Red Crescent, was thus organized by Turkish Flour Yeast and Ingredients Promotion Group of the Central Anatolian Exporters Union.

The charity ship farewell ceremony held on 11 May 2013 with the attendance of the Economy Minister Zafer ÇAĞLAYAN saw the charity ship setting off towards West Africa. The ceremony was attended by the representatives of the Ministry of Economy, Mersin Governor Hasan Basri GÜZELOĞLU, Turkish Red Crescent Acting Vice President Nihat ADIGÜZEL, Turkish Flour Yeast and Ingredients Promotion Group Chairman Turgay ÜNLÜ, Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA), representatives of the governmental agencies and establishments located in Mersin, the firms participating in the aid campaign, and members of the press. At the ceremony, plaques were presented to each of the firms extending aid and to Turkish Red Crescent and TİKA.