African business leaders and policymakers are due to meet at the fifth Türkiye-Africa Business and Economic Forum (TABEF) in Istanbul in mid-October, as the Middle Eastern country seeks to deepen economic ties with Africa, targeting a trade volume of $75bn by 2030. ALSO READ: Rwanda’s exports to Turkey increase to over $10 million The two-day forum due on October 16–17 will attract over 4,000 participants, including African and Turkish businesspeople, government officials, financial institutions, and entrepreneurs, according to the Turkish government. It is being organized by the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK) in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade of Türkiye and coordinated by the African Union. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Türkiye and Angola’s President João Goncalves Lourenço, who also serves as Chairperson of the African Union, will attend the forum, alongside key ministers, business leaders from Africa. The forum will focus on priority sectors such as agriculture, renewable energy, logistics, construction, mining, automotive, textiles, defense, and digital technologies. Panels and sessions will explore topics ranging from food security and pharmaceuticals to technology transfer and digital trade. Türkiye’s trade with Africa has grown from $5.4bn in 2003 to $32.8bn in 2024, with exports reaching $21.5bn and imports $11.3bn last year. The country now aims to expand economic cooperation, industrial development, and African integration through joint ventures, infrastructure projects, and sustainable investment models. A special highlight of the forum will be the Türkiye-Africa Women Leadership and Entrepreneurship Dialogue, bringing together Turkish and African businesswomen to share experiences, promote female leadership, and explore collaborative business ventures. The forum also includes thematic panels, bilateral business meetings, and Government-to-Business (G2B) sessions designed to facilitate trade deals, investment partnerships, and cross-border collaborations.
