By RAED BADAVVI
Kalo Africa Media Correspondent – Doha, Qatar
ISTANBUL-
Türkiye has brought together nearly 2,000 business representatives from 54 African countries and more than 400 Turkish companies at a major international trade forum in Istanbul, as Ankara seeks to expand its commercial and investment partnerships across the African continent.
The 15th World Cooperation Industries Forum (WCI Forum), held on October 14-15 at the WOW Convention Center, provides a platform for direct negotiations between Turkish manufacturers, exporters, African importers and investors.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Turkish Deputy Trade Minister Özgür Volkan Ağar said trade between Türkiye and African countries had increased from $5.5 billion in 2003 to approximately $40 billion in 2025.
He added that bilateral trade had already exceeded $28 billion in 2026, reflecting the expanding economic relationship between Türkiye and the continent.
Ağar also highlighted Türkiye’s growing diplomatic and commercial presence in Africa, noting that the country now operates 44 embassies and 31 commercial counsellor offices across the continent, compared with 12 embassies and four commercial offices in 2003.
The opening ceremony brought together senior government officials and business representatives, including Bernard Ahiafor, First Deputy Speaker of Ghana’s Parliament, and Segun Bolaji, Vice President of the Nigerian Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture.
Their participation underscored the involvement of West African institutions in efforts to strengthen commercial relations with Turkish businesses.
WCI Forum Chairman Utku Bengisu outlined an ambitious strategy to expand trade between Türkiye and Africa, setting an initial target of $50 billion before pursuing a longer-term objective of $100 billion.
Bengisu said the forum had developed into an international platform connecting Turkish manufacturers with African business communities through direct commercial contacts and investment opportunities.
He noted that the organization had also held business forums in African countries, including Ghana, Kenya and Nigeria, bringing Turkish business delegations into direct contact with local companies and investors.
The Istanbul gathering covers a broad range of economic sectors, including construction, agriculture, food production, textiles, machinery, energy, mining and infrastructure.
Over the two-day event, participating companies are holding business-to-business meetings designed to identify potential commercial partners, explore new export markets and develop long-term investment relationships.
The forum reflects Türkiye’s broader efforts to strengthen economic engagement with African markets through trade promotion, private-sector partnerships and an expanding network of diplomatic and commercial representations.
For African businesses, the gathering offers opportunities to establish direct relationships with Turkish manufacturers and suppliers across several industrial sectors.
While the organizers have outlined ambitious trade expansion targets, no specific new commercial agreements were announced in the reports available at the time of publication.
