Istanbul: Fifty of 54 African sovereign states attended the Trkiye-Africa Business and Economic Forum (TABEF) in Istanbul, which was hosted Thursday by the Turkish Trade Ministry. Nail Olpak, president of the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK), told the media that the forum hosted 'almost all of Africa' at the Istanbul Congress Center.

According to Anadolu Agency, the forum was coordinated by the African Union (AU) and organized by the DEIK, with Anadolu as its global communications partner. This year's theme, 'Leveraging Trkiye-Africa Relations for Mutual Gains,' underscores the collaborative intent of the gathering. Olpak highlighted that ministerial dialogues are currently underway, involving ministers, deputy ministers, and official state representatives from a total of 29 African countries. This aspect of the event is significant as it facilitates both intergovernmental and business-to-business talks.

Olpak further noted the participation of advisors from 37 countries, with around 50 panelists engaging in nine separate panels covering topics ranging from civil aviation to health. The forum has registered over 4,000 participants, marking it as an important event. As the forum progresses through its first of two days, Olpak expressed optimism, reflecting on his visits to participant booths, business meetings, and interactions with advisors, all of which have yielded positive feedback so far.

The fifth iteration of the forum is set to explore vital themes, including competitive and collaborative textile value chains, financing Africa's infrastructure needs, pharmaceuticals and medical supplies, Trkiye-Africa logistics hub, women's leadership and entrepreneurship, food security, energy and mining, civil aviation cooperation, and digital trade and manufacturing.