Launched in line with the decisions adopted during the Second Türkiye–Africa Partnership Summit held in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea in November 2014, the Türkiye–Africa Business and Economic Forum (TABEF) has been organized biennially since 2016.
TABEF aims to analyze the commercial and economic relations between Türkiye and African countries, assess Türkiye’s investment approach toward the continent, and enhance interactions between business communities. It also seeks to initiate dialogue between Turkish investors, the African Union (AU), and regional economic communities in order to reinforce investment ties between Türkiye and Africa. Hosted by the Republic of Türkiye’s Ministry of Trade, coordinated by the African Union, and organized by DEİK, the Forum held its first and second editions on November 2–3, 2016, and October 10–11, 2018, respectively. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the Forum was held virtually on October 8–9, 2020, followed by its third and fourth editions in Istanbul on October 22–23, 2021, and October 12–13, 2023.
TABEF provides a valuable platform for leading public and private sector representatives from both Türkiye and Africa to share their experiences and policy recommendations for developing the private sector and fostering innovation-based Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). It aims to promote inclusive, sustainable, and broad-based growth and development.
Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye and the African Union Commission are committed to enhancing cooperation opportunities through the success of the fifth Türkiye–Africa Business and Economic Forum, scheduled for October 16–17, 2025.
The fifth edition of the Türkiye–Africa Business and Economic Forum aims to focus on priority economic sectors and jointly address challenges, while identifying opportunities to establish stronger economic partnerships between Türkiye and African countries—always with a view to shared interests.
Organized under the main theme “Leveraging Türkiye-Africa Relations for Mutual Gains”, the Forum will provide a constructive setting to address trade barriers, infrastructure bottlenecks, financing needs, and regulatory challenges that hinder the expansion of Türkiye–Africa cooperation. Participants will be encouraged to exchange ideas on strategies to increase bilateral trade and investment. Key sectors prioritized for discussion include agriculture, agri-food transformation, mining, automotive, textiles, transportation (land, air, and sea), artificial intelligence, defense, and digital and data infrastructure.
TABEF will offer a vital opportunity to develop innovative and win-win project partnerships, allowing Türkiye and Africa to emerge as indispensable global partners through effective investment incentives that support foreign direct investment (FDI) and public-private partnerships (PPPs).
As agriculture remains the backbone of the African economy, there is great potential for cooperation with Türkiye’s agricultural enterprises, which possess deep expertise and high production capacity, and continue to deliver premium products to global markets. Stronger collaboration in agro-industry, healthcare, and tourism holds the promise of advancing mutual prosperity and fostering economic diversification. In this respect, TABEF will play a key role in highlighting innovative approaches, policies, and initiatives that can unlock the partnership potential between Türkiye and Africa and lead to inclusive growth and shared welfare.
The Forum will also offer an opportunity to explore how tourism can contribute to economic growth and job creation. Sustainable tourism practices, cultural exchange, and investment opportunities in the tourism sector will be on the agenda. Moreover, by encouraging knowledge-sharing between the parties, the Forum will contribute to the establishment of stronger and long-lasting partnerships.