President Erdogan was addressing over three-thousand delegates from all over Africa on the last day of the just ended 5th Turkish-Africa Economic and Business Forum held at the Istanbul Congress Centre.
Amidst strong applause from the crowd, the Turkish president first expressed his country’s openness to investors and the importance of its strategic partnership with Africa.
“I sincerely wish that the Türkiye–Africa Economy and Business Forum will be beneficial and lay the groundwork for new collaborations. I would like to extend my special congratulations to our Ministry of Trade and all the institutions and organizations that contributed to the organization of this forum. ”
President Erdogan expressed appreciation that the forum, which was first held in 2016, has over time become a platform where decisions taken have turned into concrete projects with the support of participants from across Africa.
“At a time when global trade is facing growing uncertainty and risks, valuable assessments have been shared over the past two days in areas such as agriculture, food, textiles, energy, mining, and health.”
President Erdogan revealed that the guests who honored Istanbul from various African countries had the opportunity to present their nations’ investment environments and trade opportunities to both other participants and to the Turkish business community.
As a result, he said, a strong synergy has emerged regarding the future of ‘our trade relations.’
“We attach great importance to the establishment of new friendships, new collaborations, and new partnerships here, and we hope they will be lasting.”
With its rapidly growing economy, swiftly developing investment environment, and its geographical location at the heart of three continents, President Erdogan assured that Türkiye’s doors are wide open to every investor and entrepreneur from all around the world.
“All relevant institutions of our state, our ministries, and the Investment Office under the Presidency are ready to provide all necessary support to anyone wishing to invest in our country.”
To that end, he said Turkey makes no distinctions, hold no prejudices, and excludes no one, noting that based on the principles of equality, mutual respect, and win–win cooperation, the country is striving to share their experience, political and cultural knowledge with Africa.
He said by declaring 2005 as the “Year of Africa” in Türkiye, they’ve opened a new chapter in their relations with the continent, saying it has now been exactly 20 years since then.
In these two decades, he said, the two regions have worked hand in hand and heart to heart and together advanced their relations to levels that were once beyond imagination.
“We are extremely pleased that Türkiye–Africa relations have reached the level of a strategic partnership through our joint efforts. This year also marks the 20th anniversary of Türkiye’s observer status in the African Union.”
The Turkish leader also spoke of his country’s readiness to host the fourth Türkiye–Africa Partnership Summit next year, for which preparations have already begun.
This, forthcoming important summit, he added will stand as another milestone in both region’s joint efforts for the development and prosperity of the African continent.
“We share a deep-rooted affection and friendship with the African continent that dates back to the 10th century. From Timbuktu to Harare, from Cairo to Cape Town, there are indelible traces and memories of this friendship, brotherhood, and shared destiny. As a politician, I have made more than 50 visits to the continent during my tenure. I was the first head of government to visit Mogadishu in 2011 after many years.”
From the far north to the far south, from west to east, President Erdogan added, he has been a guest of African brothers and sisters across the continent and that through these visits, he had the opportunity to experience first hand the rich culture and noble-hearted people of “Mama Africa.”
“While ‘our skin and eye colors may differ’, but the color of ‘our tears is the same’ and that despite life’s many challenges, we have always been deeply moved by the joy of life that never fades from the faces of my African brothers and sisters.”
Nail Olpak, president of Foreign Economic Relations Board of Türkiye (DEİK), Prof. Dr. Omer Bolat, Minister for Trade of Turkey, Dr. Amany Asfour, president, Africa Business Council, H.E Mrs. Francisca Tatchouop Belobe, Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals of the African Union and Shipokosa Paulus Mashatile, Deputy President of South Africa, all spoke about the need to harness the existing opportunities between the two regions.
More so, the African delegates reminded the Turkish leadership of the enormous potentials in the continent, reminding that the African Continental Free Trade Area, AFTCA, was established to boost Africa's inter-African trade and to stimulate economic growth across the continent.
They also project this AFTCA will in the future be the largest trade area in the world, with an expected economic and business market of US$6.7 trillion by 2035.
