The friendship between Türkiye and the African continent has deep historical roots, grounded in mutual respect, cultural understanding, and the spirit of partnership. Over the past two decades, this relationship has evolved from warm diplomatic ties into a dynamic economic partnership — one that now plays a key role in promoting sustainable growth and shared prosperity across both regions.
At the heart of this progress lies the Türkiye–Africa Business and Economic Forum (TABEF), an initiative organized by the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Türkiye (DEİK) in collaboration with the African Union and the Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Trade. Held biennially in Istanbul, TABEF has become a symbol of Türkiye’s commitment to strengthening trade, investment, and cooperation with Africa. The 2025 edition of the forum, hosted at the Istanbul Congress Center on 16–17 October 2025, once again showcased the power of partnership — and its potential to shape the future of Türkiye–Africa relations.
A Platform for Partnership and Growth
TABEF 2025 brought together over 4000 participants, including representatives from 50 African countries, business leaders, policymakers, and investors from diverse sectors. The forum’s main objective was to enhance economic collaboration and provide a platform for B2B meetings, creating tangible opportunities for trade and investment.
Over two days, hundreds of bilateral discussions took place between African and Turkish companies. These sessions were not just about exchanging business cards; they were about sharing visions, exploring markets, and developing strategies that would turn ideas into action.
Türkiye, with its robust manufacturing sector, strategic location, and rapidly advancing green and digital transformation agenda, offers African partners significant opportunities in infrastructure, energy, technology, and logistics. On the other hand, Africa — with its growing population, expanding middle class, and abundant natural resources — represents a vast and promising market for Turkish investors.
The forum highlighted how mutual growth can be achieved through collaboration rather than competition, and how shared values such as entrepreneurship and resilience can serve as a foundation for sustainable development.
Historical and Cultural Bonds
Relations between Türkiye and Africa are not new. Historically, Türkiye maintained strong cultural and commercial connections with various African nations through its presence along the Red Sea and North Africa. These ties were later revived and strengthened with Türkiye’s “Africa Opening Policy”, launched in 2005.
Since then, the number of Turkish embassies in Africa has grown from 12 to more than 44, and African embassies in Ankara have also increased significantly. Direct flights by Turkish Airlines now connect Istanbul to over 60 destinations across Africa, making Türkiye one of the continent’s most accessible partners.
Beyond trade, Türkiye’s engagement in Africa extends to education, humanitarian aid, and development projects through institutions such as TİKA (Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency). Thousands of African students, including many from Ghana, have studied in Türkiye under various scholarship programs, creating a bridge between the next generation of leaders from both regions.
Economic Collaboration: From 34.5 to 70 Billion USD
Türkiye–Africa trade has shown remarkable growth in the past two decades. In 2024, the trade volume between Türkiye and Africa reached 34.5 billion USD, marking a significant increase from previous years. The goal for 2025 is to push this figure to 40 billion USD, with an even more ambitious long-term target of 70 billion USD.
This growth trajectory is supported by the complementary nature of both economies: while Türkiye provides industrial products, construction materials, and machinery, African nations offer agricultural goods, raw materials, and emerging market opportunities.
Such economic synergy is at the core of the TABEF vision. Every edition of the forum serves as a catalyst for new agreements, partnerships, and collaborations that contribute to regional development and global trade diversification.
Ghana’s Role in the Türkiye–Africa Equation
Ghana stands out as one of Türkiye’s key partners in West Africa. The two countries share not only diplomatic goodwill but also a growing economic relationship built on trust and mutual benefit. Ghana’s political stability, business-friendly environment, and rich natural resources — including gold, cocoa, and oil — position it as a regional hub for trade and investment.
Türkiye recognizes Ghana’s potential as a gateway to West Africa and has been actively investing in sectors such as construction, energy, manufacturing, and agriculture. Turkish companies have already contributed to several infrastructure projects in Ghana, supporting its long-term development goals.
For Ghana, increasing its exports to Türkiye presents a major opportunity. With a diverse range of agricultural and industrial products, Ghana has the capacity to expand its presence in the Turkish market and, through Türkiye, access new trade routes to Europe and Asia.
As highlighted during the forum, Ghana’s export potential must be realized through stronger collaboration, capacity building, and value-added production. With the support of forums like TABEF, Ghanaian entrepreneurs can connect directly with Turkish counterparts, explore new markets, and establish partnerships that drive inclusive growth.
Sustainable Development and the Energy Transition
Another key topic during TABEF 2025 was sustainability — particularly in the context of the global energy transition. Türkiye and African nations share a vision of sustainable growth, with both regions investing heavily in renewable energy, clean technologies, and digital innovation.
Türkiye’s experience in solar, wind, and hydro energy offers valuable lessons and partnership models for African countries aiming to expand their renewable capacity. At the same time, Africa’s vast renewable potential presents new opportunities for joint ventures, technology transfer, and research collaborations.
The message from TABEF was clear: the green transformation must be inclusive. Both Türkiye and Africa can build an energy partnership that not only addresses climate challenges but also creates jobs, reduces poverty, and strengthens resilience against external shocks.
Together, Stronger
The 2025 Türkiye–Africa Business and Economic Forum ended on a hopeful and inspiring note — a reflection of the theme “Together, Stronger.” The event demonstrated that sustainable progress comes from collaboration, dialogue, and mutual trust.
Türkiye’s role as a bridge between continents is more relevant than ever. By deepening its economic and social engagement with Africa, Türkiye contributes to a fairer and more balanced global trade system. Meanwhile, African nations — from Ghana to Kenya, Nigeria to South Africa — are finding in Türkiye a reliable partner that respects their priorities and supports their ambitions for self-sustained growth.
For participants, TABEF was more than just a conference; it was a living example of what can be achieved when nations come together with a shared purpose. The energy in the room, the diversity of participants, and the concrete outcomes all signaled one thing — Türkiye and Africa are entering a new era of cooperation.
Looking Ahead
As Türkiye and Africa set their sights on reaching 70 billion USD in trade volume, Ghana will undoubtedly play a pivotal role in this journey. Its strategic location, economic reforms, and entrepreneurial spirit make it an ideal partner for Turkish businesses seeking to expand across Africa.
Platforms like HiveGhana can also serve as digital bridges, amplifying these success stories and connecting changemakers from both continents. By fostering conversations around innovation, sustainability, and inclusive trade, online communities can extend the impact of forums like TABEF beyond the conference halls — into real, everyday collaborations.