04.12.2015 Ankara
TOBB and Union of African Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Agriculture and Professions (UACCIAP) have kicked off the “Road Show: Discovering Africa” along with the embassies of African countries in Turkey in order to facilitate the participation of Turkish companies in the African market, enabling them to be more active in the market.
Speaking at the introductory meeting for the program held at the TOBB
Twin Towers, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Turkey and the
African continent have a friendship going back many years. Stating that Turkey
and the African continent have been close throughout history, Hisarcıklıoğlu
said that the Africa Action Plan was put into action in 1998.
Reporting that the bilateral trade volume has reached 20 billion as of
last year, Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out that Turkish companies’ investments in
Africa have surpassed 5 billion USD.
Stating that he has visited both North and Sub-Saharan Africa throughout
his time as TOBB President, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Each time I visit, the
business opportunities and my conversations with our businessmen there excite
me greatly. Those who do business there know the region but we need a wider
outreach. This endeavor which aims to improve the contributions of diplomats to
the business environment will be shown as a successful example in the future.
Turkey’s economy showed great transformation and progress following
1980,” Hisarcıklıoğlu said that Turkey has opened up to all markets today, “We
have become the largest industry between Italy and China. This financial
transformation owes a lot of success to the contributions of the private
sector.”
Morocco’s Ambassador to Ankara Lutfi Auad and Ministry of Foreign
Affairs Africa General Director Hulusi Kılıç were also present during the event
and expressed their support for this endeavor undertaken by TOBB.