Istanbul: Turkish businesspeople have invested $2.3 billion and employed 35,000 people in Africa, while the country's construction business has been actively working on the continent with over 2,300 projects, the Turkish trade minister said. Speaking at the Trkiye-Africa business event, the World Cooperation Industries (WCI) Forum, Omer Bolat highlighted the extensive reach of Turkish construction projects on the continent, totaling $97.5 billion and accounting for 18% of their overseas projects.

According to Anadolu Agency, Bolat noted the rapid acceleration in Trkiye-Africa relations in various sectors, including politics, diplomacy, trade, tourism, and investments, since President Recep Tayyip Erdogan took office in 2002. The year 2005 was designated as the 'Year of Africa' in Trkiye following the announcement of a strategic approach to the region in 2003.

Turkish Airlines has been instrumental in connecting 54 African countries to the world, with the number of Turkish embassies on the continent increasing from 12 in 2003 to 44, with plans to reach 50 soon. Trade between Trkiye and Africa has surged from $5.4 billion in 2003 to $36.5 billion by 2024, with Trkiye exporting $21.8 billion and importing approximately $15 billion.

Bolat emphasized efforts to strengthen ties with 26 Muslim-majority countries in Africa, focusing on sectors such as machinery, electrical, chemicals, automotive, agricultural products, and ferrous and steel products. The Turkish Ministry of Trade participated in 65 events on the African continent in 2023-24, organizing 33 business events and conducting meetings with over 50 African state officials, along with 79 procurement delegation programs in the last two years.

African imports to Trkiye include raw materials, energy products, petroleum, natural gas, oil, minerals, cocoa, coffee, sesame seeds, and other agricultural products. Bolat proudly announced a significant increase in Trkiye's service exports, reaching $6 billion to Africa in 2023, with Africa exporting $5.1 billion worth of services to Trkiye.

Tourism between the regions has also seen growth, with 1.5 million African tourists visiting Trkiye in 2024 and 600,000 already visiting this year. Bolat concluded by expressing confidence in Trkiye's total exports reaching nearly $400 billion by year's end, with $274 billion in goods and $123 billion in services.