The theme for this 5th forum which has attracted large delegations from across the globe is "Leveraging Türkiye-Africa Relations for Mutual Gains".
The first-day of the high level session centred on key sectors, namely food security, agriculture, renewable energy, mining, automotive, textiles, transport and logistics, construction, defence, and digital technologies.
The president of the Republic of Türkiye, H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdogan and First Lady Emine Erdogan are expected to attend the forum along with AU Chair and Angolan President Joao Lourenco and First Lady Ana Afonso Dias Lourenco.
The first-day Ministerial Meeting, with ministers from across Africa, was presided over by Turkish Trade Minister, Omer Bolat, and H.E. Mrs Francisca Tatchouop Belobe, AUC Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals (ETTIM).
Speaking to journalists after the Ministerial Meeting held on Thursday, Nani Juwara, Gambia’s Minister for Petroleum, Energy & Mines, acknowledged the continent’s vast market, saying the cooperation with Turkey will benefit both Turkey and Africa in knowledge and technology transfer from Turkey to Africa.
“Turkey has a lot of potential and Africa also equally has a lot of potential when it comes to resources. The market in Africa is huge. That cooperation with Turkey will benefit not only Turkey but also Africa in terms of knowledge transfer and also technology transfer from Turkey to Africa,” he said.
Minister Juwara stated that Turkey can equally benefit from African countries in terms of access to resources, mainly critical resources that are necessary for industrial development.
He added: “Turkey being a large economy, very strong economy for that matter, with a very strong private sector, I think we all stand to benefit from this partnership. It's a partnership that we think will foster South-South cooperation.”
He revealed that The Gambia is already a beneficiary of Turkey's investment, citing Alport, which is currently in The Gambia.
“They have brought in new technology. The new management also has helped to bring efficiency into the operations. We are also working with Alport to be able to develop the deep sea around Sanyang. And that will help to bring bigger vessels into the country. And that means our trade dynamics will also completely change. The Gambia will serve as a hub for West Africa when it comes to trade.”
This, minister Juwara believes, cannot happen ‘if we don't have the infrastructure’, saying partnering with companies like Alport that has the capacity, financial and technical know-how would greatly help improve the trade activities within the country and also serve as a hub for West Africa.
He also talked about Negmar, another Turkish company operating in The Gambia and has invested in the ferry crossing from Banjul to Barra.
“We have seen the work that is ongoing and very soon they will also start operations. We are also working very hard to encourage more tourist companies to come to the Gambia and invest. You have seen the renovations that are going on at the Atlantic Hotel.”
H.E. Alkali Conteh, Gambian Ambassador to Türkiye, described the Turkey-Africa Business and Economic Forum as a melting point for Turkish and African businesses from the policy level to the actors in trade and investment between Turkey and Africa, and specifically between the Gambia and Turkey.
“We have areas of trade and investment. When I came in here in 2023 as ambassador, the trade volume between Turkey and Africa was at US$77 million. At now, by the end of 2024, it went up to, US$ 88 million.”
In view of this, Ambassador Conteh explained that it is around, 11, 12 million up in one year, further expressing optimism that this year, 2025, it will go above the triple digits.
He recalled that in 2023, basically the country had only KARPOWERSHIP as a Turkish investor, noting that between 2023 and now, there are number of Turkish companies in the country’s workforce.
He pointed out that Negmar and Albayrak are all operating in the country and that the total investment package of Albayrak for the Gambia is around 700 million US dollars.
“So, in a sense, it is expanding and growing. How about the participants? You know, we know that you are the ambassador representing Gambia in this country. How about the Gambians who are living here, who you have worked with them to participate in this important forum? The Gambians who are in Turkey really are operating at a very marginal level.”
