Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD) President Mahmut Asmalı stated that the bilateral trade volume between Türkiye and African countries reached USD 33.1 billion in 2022 and said: "We wholeheartedly believe that the economic relations between the two countries will continue to increase in the coming years."
The Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD) held the Africa Ambassadors Summit at the Ankara Africa Culture House, whose activities it supports under the auspices of Mrs. Emine Erdoğan. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Türkiye and Ambassador Ahmet Yıldız also attended the program, in which almost all of the African ambassadors in Türkiye took part.
MÜSİAD President Mahmut Asmalı stated that the bilateral trade volume between Türkiye and African countries reached USD 33.1 billion in 2022 and said: "We wholeheartedly believe that the economic relations between the two countries will continue to increase in the coming years."
In his speech at the "Africa Ambassadors Summit" program held at the Africa Handicrafts and Culture House, Asmalı said that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his wife Emine Erdoğan have a close interest in Africa.
Pointing out that the idea of opening an Africa Culture Association emerged in 2016 as a concrete outcome of this close interest, Asmalı reported that the association has continued its activities ever since.
Noting that MÜSİAD carries out programs directed at Africa, Asmalı stated that they will increase the number of branches and representative offices located in 15 different countries in Africa to 25 by the end of 2024.
Recalling that they have continued the MÜSİAD EXPO fair without interruption, Asmalı said: "Many businesspeople from Africa also attend this fair of ours. Next year we aim to hold the Africa Business Forum in Nigeria with broad participation. Afterwards, in 2025, we want to carry out MÜSİAD Expo's international expansion first in Africa."
Asmalı reported that they are working to develop diplomatic and commercial relations with African countries and that these efforts will continue to increase in the days ahead.
Providing information on the bilateral trade volume between Türkiye and African countries, Asmalı said: "While it stood at an annual average of USD 20 billion in the 2013-2020 period, it rose to USD 29.4 billion in 2021 and to USD 33.1 billion in 2022. In addition, the volume of projects undertaken by Turkish firms has grown rapidly, reaching USD 77.8 billion in Africa. We wholeheartedly believe that the economic relations between the two countries will continue to increase in the coming years."
"Africa is a candidate to become the rising power of the new world"
Pointing out that the African continent makes up 20 percent of the world's surface area and that 60 percent of arable land and 30 percent of mineral reserves are located on this continent, Asmalı noted the following:
"With a population estimated to reach 3 billion in 2050, and especially with its young population, the African continent ranks among the foremost in the world. When we evaluate it from this perspective, Africa is a candidate to become the rising power of the new world. Yet despite these riches, it holds only 3 percent of global trade. Moreover, African countries bear 25 percent of the global disease burden."
Stating that they want to sustain with increasing momentum the "win-win" understanding Türkiye has adopted towards African countries over the past 20 years, Asmalı said: "We always stand by our state in order to sustain this important effort."
