As Ghana navigates the complexities of global economic recovery and seeks to diversify its trade partnerships, the upcoming 5th Türkiye-Africa Economic and Business Forum (TABEF) presents a timely platform for fostering mutually beneficial collaborations. Scheduled for October 16-17, 2025, in Istanbul, this biennial event underscores the deepening ties between Türkiye and African nations, offering Ghanaian entrepreneurs, policymakers, and investors a gateway to explore high-growth sectors and strategic alliances.
Launched in 2016 under the auspices of Türkiye’s Africa Strategy, TABEF has evolved into a premier economic dialogue, organized by the Republic of Türkiye’s Ministry of Trade in coordination with the African Union (AU) and the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK). Over four editions, it has convened thousands of business leaders, ministers, representatives from regional economic communities, and international financial institutions, alongside women and young entrepreneurs from Türkiye and across Africa. The forum has catalyzed tangible outcomes, including trade agreements, joint ventures, and investment flows that have bolstered intra-continental commerce.
This growth mirrors the broader trajectory of Türkiye-Africa relations, which have flourished on diplomatic and economic fronts since the early 2000s. Türkiye’s “Africa Opening” policy has led to over 40 embassies across the continent, enhanced development investment exceeding $10 billion, and a surge in bilateral trade volumes. In 2023 alone, Türkiye-Africa trade reached approximately $40 billion, with projections for continued expansion amid shared priorities in sustainable development and digital transformation. For African nations like Ghana, these ties represent not just market access but also technology transfers and capacity-building in critical areas such as infrastructure and agriculture.
The 2025 edition, themed “Leveraging Türkiye-Africa Relations for Mutual Gains,” builds on these foundations to address pressing global challenges. The Forum will be attended by the President of the Republic of Türkiye H.E. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Chairperson of the African Union and President of the Republic of Angola H.E. João Goncalves Lourenço, Minister of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye H.E. Prof. Dr. Ömer Bolat, Commissioner for Economic Development, Trade, Tourism, Industry and Minerals of the African Union, H.E. Francisca Tatchouop Belobe, President of DEİK, Nail Olpak, Coordinating Chairperson of DEİK/Türkiye-Africa Business Councils Fuat Tosyalı, as well as H.E. First Lady Emine Erdoğan and Ministers of Economy, Trade and Finance from various African countries.
The draft agenda reveals a robust line-up of concurrent sessions designed to drive actionable partnerships. Day One kicks off with a closed ministerial session on “Navigating Global Economic Uncertainty: Strengthening Türkiye-Africa Partnerships.” Open forums will delve into priority sectors, including Panel I on Food Security and Sustainable Food Production; Panel II on Türkiye-Africa International Civil Aviation Cooperation; Panel III on Pharmaceuticals and Medical Supplies; Panel IV on the Türkiye-Africa Logistics Hub; and Panel V on Technology, Manufacturing, and Mining. These will run alongside business-to-business (B2B) meetings, an exhibition, and country presentations, culminating in networking opportunities until 19:00. The second day, October 17, will extend these discussions with additional panels on textile competitiveness, defense technologies, artificial intelligence, and sustainable development—areas ripe for innovation and investment.
For Ghana, TABEF 2025 holds particular relevance amid our nation’s economic imperatives. As Africa’s second-largest gold producer and a key player in cocoa and cashew exports, Ghana stands to benefit immensely from dialogues on mining, agriculture, and food security, where Türkiye’s expertise in sustainable processing and value addition could enhance local supply chains. The forum’s focus on infrastructure, transport, and digitalization aligns seamlessly with Ghana’s Agenda 111 Digitalisation Programme and our push for resilient logistics hubs under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA). Moreover, with Ghana’s pharmaceutical sector expanding—evidenced by recent investments in local manufacturing—sessions on medical supplies offer pathways to technology partnerships that could reduce import dependencies and bolster health security post-COVID.
The event’s emphasis on women and youth entrepreneurship resonates with Ghana’s National Entrepreneurship and Innovation Programme (NEIP), providing avenues for our dynamic startups in agrotech and fintech to connect with Turkish counterparts. By participating, Ghanaian firms can not only secure B2B leads but also influence AU-wide policies that amplify our voice in continental trade dynamics.
The Ghana-Tukiye economic relationship exemplifies the forum’s potential. Bilateral trade surged to $624.8 million in 2023 and, $556.9 million in 2024 driven by Ghana’s gold exports. So far this year, bilateral trade has already reached $602.2, this time driven by the Ghana’s cocoa exports. Turkish investments in Ghana span construction, energy, and manufacturing. These ties, underpinned by high-level visits, including President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s 2016 state visit, have fostered a framework for deeper integration, including a prospective free trade agreement.
In an era of geopolitical flux, Ghana’s business and diplomatic community cannot afford to overlook TABEF 2025. Registration is open via https://tabef.org/, with detailed information available in the event brochure. As we mark the 65th anniversary of Ghana-Türkiye diplomatic relations next year, this forum offers a strategic moment to elevate our partnership from trade complementarity to transformative co-creation. Ghanaian leaders and enterprises are encouraged to seize this opportunity, forging alliances that propel sustainable growth for both nations.
By Aboagye Mintah ([email protected])
Source: ameyawdebrah.com/
