Businesspeople and policymakers have called for greater economic ties between Türkiye and African countries at the 15th World Cooperation Industries (WCI) Forum.
The two-day conference held from 14 to 15 October at the WOW Convention Center in Istanbul brought together approximately 2,000 business professionals from 54 African countries and over 400 manufacturers and exporters from Türkiye.
“The forum highlighted the current $40 billion trade volume between Türkiye and Africa, as well as a long-term target of $100 billion,” organisers said in a statement.
During the event, Turkish companies and African purchasing delegations explored new trade and investment opportunities.
“The forum is aimed at strengthening commercial ties between Türkiye and African nations and exploring new investment opportunities,” the statement added.
Throughout the two-day event, bilateral business meetings focused on strengthening the presence of Turkish firms in the African market, establishing new export connections, and developing mutual investment opportunities.
‘Win-win ties’
The event was attended by Türkiye’s Deputy Minister of Trade Özgür Volkan Ağar, First Deputy Speaker of the Parliament of Ghana Bernard Ahiafor, Vice-President of the Nigerian Association of Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines, and Agriculture (NACCIMA) Segun Bolaji, Founding President of MÜSİAD and President of the International Business Forum (IBF) Erol Yarar, WCI Forum President Utku Bengisu, and WCI Forum Executive Board Chairman Prof. Dr Abdülkadir Develi.
In his opening speech, Türkiye’s Deputy Minister of Trade Özgür Volkan Ağar emphasised Africa’s growing relevance on the global stage.
“With its high economic potential and a rapidly growing, young population, the African continent is playing an increasingly active role in the global system,” Ağar said.
“While our total trade volume with Africa stood at just $5.5 billion in 2003, this figure has risen to approximately $40 billion as of 2025. In fact, our total foreign trade volume with Africa has already surpassed $28 billion this year alone,” he added.
Ağar noted that Türkiye aims to foster its relations with African countries based on “the principles of mutual benefit” and sustainable partnerships.
“We wish to advance and grow alongside African nations, conducting our bilateral relations on a ‘win-win’ basis. We have also significantly strengthened our diplomatic network across the continent,” the deputy minister stressed.
‘Africa not just market’
“While we had only 12 embassies and 4 commercial counsellor offices in Africa in 2003, today we operate 44 embassies and 31 commercial counsellor offices.”
For his part, WCI Forum President Utku Bengisu said that as part of their 15-year-long efforts to foster ties between Türkiye and Africa, they have organised 92 business forums, including 12 in Ghana and 9 in Nigeria, and have been active in Ethiopia for nearly a decade.
He highlighted the field experience they have gained in 48 of the continent’s 54 countries, saying the African market cannot be understood through commercial data alone.
It requires on-the-ground observation and direct, personal relationships, he said.
“Africa is not merely a market for selling products; it is a future to be built together,” Bengisu added.
“Africa represents a future – a future of joint production, shared investment, and collective growth,” he stressed and urged greater economic cooperation between Türkiye and African countries, hoping trade volume could reach $100 billion in the future.
First-hand knowledge
Emphasising that commercial relations should not be limited solely to imports and exports, Bengisu highlighted the importance of joint investments in sectors such as energy, organised industrial zones, agricultural technologies, food processing, machinery manufacturing, and logistics.
He said the WCI Forum aims to foster commercial ties not only between Türkiye and Africa but also among African nations themselves.
Bengisu announced the event calendar for 2027, with the WCI Forum to be held in Nairobi on 27-28 January 2027, in Nigeria on 21-22 April, and in Accra on 1-2 September.
“The foundation of trade is trust, and the foundation of trust is knowing one another,” Bengisu observed, urging the Turkish business community to further explore the African market firsthand through direct contact.
