Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Yasin Ekrem Serim announced that the trade volume between Turkiye and African countries has increased 8 times in the last 20 years and reached $40.7 billion.
The 9th World Intersectoral Cooperation Forum (WCI FORUM), which brought together nearly 1500 business people from 50 African countries with Turkish manufacturers and exporters, has ended.
Speaking at the closing of the forum, which continued for two days in Istanbul, Serim emphasized that the African continent stands out as the rising value of the 21st century with its cultural accumulation and enormous potential.
Stating that they will not forget the support shown by African countries after the earthquake disasters, Serim said, “Our nation will not forget this appreciation, as it did before.”
Explaining the support provided by Turkiye after the flood disaster in Libya, Serim said that efforts were made to deliver aid to Libyans with military cargo planes, ships and field hospitals.
The number of embassies increased to 44
Reminding that Turkiye implemented the grain corridor agreement at a time when crises such as climate change and the Russia-Ukraine War endangered food security on the continent, Serim said, “We transitioned to the African Partnership Policy in 2013. The number of our Embassies, which was 12 in 2012, increased to 44. In the 1990s, only Sudan from Sub-Saharan Turkiye had an Embassy in our country, but now this number has reached 38 in Ankara.”
Serim stated that President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is the world leader who visits Africa the most. “Our trade volume with Africa increased 8 times. The figure, which was $5.4 billion in 2003, reached $40.7 billion in 2022. The value of direct investments exceeded $6 billion.”
Serim stated that Turkish companies provide employment to 100 thousand people in Africa and announced that the 4th Turkiye-Africa Economy and Business Forum will be held in October.
Stating that Turkiye acts with the win-win principle, Serim added that Turkiye will continue to make efforts to make Africa’s voice heard more strongly.
“Turkiye is talked about the most”
WCI FORUM President Utku Bengisu also noted that the events will continue and that they will continue to support Turkiye’s export journey. Stating that the forum aims to bring together companies from Turkiye and Africa, Bengisu stated that Turkiye is the most talked about country on the continent with the new foreign policy vision it has developed in recent years.
Pointing out that Turkiye is the 4th country with the most ambassadors in the world in Africa, Bengisu emphasized that exporters should do their part with the Medium Term Program (MTP).
Turkish and African business people met
WCI FORUM brought together nearly 1,500 business people from 50 African countries, with a population approaching 1.5 billion and an annual import potential of nearly $1 trillion, in search of new markets, with more than 400 producers and exporters from Turkiye.
The forum was also supported by the Turkish Exporters’ Assembly (TIM), Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO) and Independent Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (MUSIAD).
Source: Trthaber / Prepared by Irem Yildiz