Businesspeople from Turkey and Africa assemble at the WCI Forum in Istanbul

The World Cooperation Industries (WCI) Forum, held in Istanbul from Wednesday to Thursday, has played a significant role in boosting Turkish-African trade relations. This high-level event facilitated business networking, trade discussions, and cooperation initiatives, aligning with Türkiye’s broader strategy to deepen ties with the African continent.

Abdulkadir Develi, executive chair of the WCI Forum, underscored the event's importance in a time of global uncertainty, emphasizing that trust is vital in trade and economic security is crucial for countries to overcome challenges. Ahmet Güleç, deputy chair of the Turkish Exporters' Assembly, further emphasized that trade between Türkiye and Africa is crucial for peaceful development.

By 2025, Türkiye's exports to Africa approached $10 billion in the first half of the year, with key African markets including Morocco, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, South Africa, and Nigeria seeing significant Turkish goods imports. This growth is linked to enhanced bilateral relations, geographical proximity, and active engagement through forums like the WCI.

The total trade between Türkiye and the African continent was $5.4 billion in 2003, but it has rapidly expanded over two decades, reaching $36.5 billion by 2024. This expansion is a testament to continued diplomatic and economic outreach efforts, many of which have been catalyzed by cooperative platforms such as the WCI Forum.

The impact of such forums and targeted initiatives includes trade diversification, investment growth, strategic gateways, and service sector and tourism expansion. Turkish exports to Africa comprise chemicals, cereals, steel, textiles, and automotive products, reflecting a broad industrial base seeking African markets. Turkish business investments in Africa have reached $2.3 billion, facilitated by forums fostering business delegations, procurement discussions, and sector-specific collaborations.

Countries like Tunisia have emerged as key gateways for Turkish companies to access broader African markets, aided by bilateral trade councils and business cooperation forums that foster ongoing dialogue and platform building. Beyond goods, services such as tourism, with 1.5 million African tourists visiting Türkiye in 2024, have contributed to multifaceted ties envisaged and promoted within cooperation frameworks like WCI.

The WCI Forum acts as a conduit for strengthening industrial cooperation, trade facilitation, and investment partnerships, contributing to the increase in Turkish-African trade and a deeper bilateral relationship marked by diversified economic engagement and mutual growth ambitions. This progress reflects Türkiye’s strategic policy of engaging African markets with sustained institutional support and high-level coordination.

In addition to the WCI Forum, other initiatives are underway to strengthen Turkey-Africa ties. For instance, the Digital Transformation Center, opened last year, uses AI-powered next-generation export solutions alongside field-oriented approaches. The Turkish Airlines network bridges 54 African countries to the world. The number of Turkish embassies in Africa has risen from 12 in 2003 to 44, with a goal to reach 50.

Turkish and Libyan business communities will meet in Benghazi, Libya, in December for a major event. Utku Bengisu, president of the WCI Forum, highlighted that the WCI Forum has helped Turkish products and technologies gain popularity across the African continent. Bolat noted that Turkish businesses have invested $2.3 billion (TL 93 billion) in Africa and employed 35,000 people.

Utku Bengisu emphasized that the focus on small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) continues through events like the WCI Forum, with the support of the Turkish Trade Ministry. Utku Bengisu also stated that investing in Africa is investing in the future. The year 2005 was declared the "Year of Africa" in Türkiye, marking a significant milestone in the country's commitment to strengthening ties with the African continent. Bolat noted that Türkiye-Africa relations accelerated rapidly after President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took office in 2002.

The World Cooperation Industries (WCI) Forum, held in Istanbul, has been instrumental in boosting Turkish-African trade relations, particularly with countries such as Morocco, Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, South Africa, and Nigeria, by facilitating business networking, trade discussions, and cooperation initiatives.
The WCI Forum has served as a conduit for strengthening industrial cooperation, trade facilitation, and investment partnerships, contributing to the increase in Turkish-African trade and a deeper bilateral relationship marked by diversified economic engagement and mutual growth ambitions.
Strategic initiatives like the WCI Forum have played a significant role in the rapid expansion of Turkey's trade with Africa over the past two decades, with Turkey's exports to Africa comprising chemicals, cereals, steel, textiles, automotive products, and more, reflecting a broad industrial base seeking African markets.
Turkish business investments in Africa have reached $2.3 billion, facilitated by forums fostering business delegations, procurement discussions, and sector-specific collaborations, a testament to continued diplomatic and economic outreach efforts to African markets.