Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

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.