When Turkey meets Africa
Ryder Gabathuse | Monday October 20, 2025 06:00
Although it was unclear how many countries are participating in this year’s fifth TABEF, records show that at some stage, 53 participated, with an estimated number of over 4000 participants taking part.
TABEF is open to prominent representatives of public and private sector actors from both Africa and Turkey. This includes high-level government officials, heads of State and government, ministers of trade, economy and foreign affairs, amongst others. The CEOs and executives from Turkish and African companies, representatives from the African Union, World Trade Organisation and other international organisations are also eligible to attend.
The forum typically covers key sectors such as Agriculture and Agri-food transformation, mining, automotive, textiles, Transportation (land, air, and sea), artificial intelligence, defence, digital and data infrastructure, amongst others.
The first TABEF was held in 2016 in Istanbul, Turkey, to promote Turkish and African investments, trade, and economic cooperation. The forum is organised biennially, with previous editions held in 2016, 2018, 2021, and 2023. The 5th TABEF is held under the theme, 'Leveraging Turkey-Africa Relations for Mutual Gains.”
Essentially, “TABEF provides a constructive setting for leaders from both public and private sectors to discuss challenges, opportunities, and strategies for enhancing trade and investment between Turkey and Africa.”
It (TABEF) aims to enhance trade and investment; increase bilateral trade and investment between Turkey and Africa, promote cooperation in various sectors, including agriculture, infrastructure, and technology, and encourage sustainable and inclusive growth and development in Africa.
Botswana’s Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, Tiroeaone Ntsima and senior officials from his ministry, Malebogo Kote, director of international business and Maureen Chirengendure, principal commercial officer yesterday joined the rest of the TABEF participants with bilateral meetings slated with the Turkish Minister of Trade and others.
By yesterday morning, questions about what Africa stands to benefit from her interactions with the Asian/European giant in Turkey as amongst others, Africa's textile industry were reportedly “poised to benefit significantly from collaborations with Turkey, a country with a rich heritage in textile production and export.”
Turkish companies, reports show, are already investing in Africa's textile sector, generating employment opportunities and stimulating economic growth.
Such partnerships, yesterday morning’s panel session indicated, can bring in new technologies, expertise, and markets. Collaborations with Turkish textile manufacturers were cited as another opportunity that can facilitate technology transfer, skill development, and capacity building in Africa's textile industry.
With Turkey's expertise in global textile trade, African countries like Botswana and others can leverage partnerships to increase their exports to international markets, including the US and EU.
Another glaring opportunity was that Turkish investments in Africa's textile sector could lead to infrastructure development, such as textile mills, factories, and training facilities, it was promised.
Turkish companies also promised to help African textile manufacturers diversify their products, including technical textiles, nonwovens, and sustainable textiles.
It was even promised by the panellists that Turkey's strong trade relations with Europe and the Middle East can help African textile exporters access these markets more.
On other fronts, the host nation is a democratic republic with a presidential system, where the President serves as both the head of State and head of government. The government is divided into three branches: the Legislative, Executive, and Judiciary.
Turkey’s strengths
The Turkish government has several strengths, including its strategic location. Turkey's geographic position allows it to bridge Europe and the Middle East, making it a crucial player in regional and global affairs. The country has a highly diversified manufacturing network and strong production knowledge, contributing to its economic resilience.
With Botswana’s high youth unemployment rate, with one in three young people unemployed, the country (Botswana) stands to pick positive lessons from the case of Turkey. Positives from the TABEF reflect that Turkey's young population and educated workforce are significant advantages for economic growth and development.
The country has made significant strides in defence technology, including the development of drones, laser-guided systems, and naval vessels. The military and police displayed their might at the forum, leaving no stone unturned in collaboration with the police in their endeavours to maintain order throughout the TABEF meet.
Overall, Turkey's government has demonstrated strength in its economic resilience, military capabilities, and strategic partnerships. However, challenges persist, including regional geopolitical tensions and concerns about governance and democracy.
Noted advantages that the host nation has, amongst others, are that Turkey's position at the crossroads of Europe and Asia makes it a crucial hub for trade, energy, and transportation.
Africa might have also picked that the host country's location facilitates cultural exchange, tourism, and people-to-people diplomacy between East and West. Turkey's proximity to growing Asian markets and its access to European markets create opportunities for trade, investment, and economic growth. Africa will also continue to learn positive lessons from Turkey’s collaborative efforts with its neighbours in both Europe and Asian nations, which continue to help the country spread its wings to the requisite markets. Turkey's geography also provides access to diverse natural resources, including oil, gas, and minerals.
Turkey's weaknesses
The country’s weaknesses include, and are not limited to, economic vulnerability with high reliance on short-term external financing. Turkey's economy is heavily dependent on short-term capital inflows, making it susceptible to global financial shocks. Turkey's imports far exceed its exports, resulting in a significant current account deficit.
Turkey has struggled with high inflation rates, eroding consumer purchasing power and investor confidence.
Turkey's proximity to conflict zones in the Middle East poses significant risks to its economic stability; its relations with Western countries, particularly the US, have been strained in recent years. Turkey's monetary policy has been criticised for being unconventional and ineffective in controlling inflation. - *Currency volatility*: The Turkish lira has experienced significant fluctuations in value, affecting investor confidence.
Concerns about corruption and authoritarianism have undermined investor confidence and economic stability.
These weaknesses have reportedly contributed to Turkey's economic challenges, including high inflation, currency volatility, and vulnerability to external shocks.
Turkey’s threats
Turkey's location near conflict zones in the Middle East and its border with Syria make it vulnerable to regional instability and security threats. This is the very reason why at the forum and anywhere in the city of Istanbul, security is taken as a matter of top priority. Just to the venue of the conference, there were multiple search points with high military presence, where people were thoroughly searched and weapons detectors were employed when clearing multitudes attending the forum. At the Istanbul International Airport, security is very tight.
Turkey's proximity to conflict zones has led to a significant influx of refugees, putting pressure on its resources and infrastructure. It was for this reason that visitors were advised to carry their identities (passports) throughout their length of stay in Turkey. Turkey's location makes it a target for terrorist groups, posing security challenges for the country. The country’s geography also makes it prone to natural disasters, such as earthquakes, and environmental degradation. Overall, Turkey's location is a double-edged sword, offering opportunities for economic growth and cultural exchange while also presenting security and environmental challenges.