As global economic headwinds challenge emerging markets, Ghanaian entrepreneurs are gearing up to tap into burgeoning trade ties with Türkiye at the upcoming 5th Türkiye-Africa Business and Economic Forum (TABEF). Scheduled for October 16-17, 2025, at the Istanbul Congress Center, the biennial event promises to be a pivotal platform for forging partnerships to propel Ghana’s export-driven sectors into new heights of growth and diversification.
Organized by Türkiye’s Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK) in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade and the African Union, TABEF 2025 adopts the theme “Navigating Global Economic Uncertainty: Strengthening the Türkiye-Africa Partnership.” This focus underscores the forum’s aim to address pressing issues like trade barriers, infrastructure deficits, financing gaps, and regulatory hurdles, while spotlighting high-potential sectors such as agriculture, industry, agro-food processing, tourism, infrastructure development, and healthcare. 0 2 13
For Ghana, a West African economic powerhouse renowned for its stable democracy and rich natural resources, the forum represents a golden opportunity to build on existing momentum. Bilateral trade between Ghana and Türkiye has seen steady expansion, reaching approximately $250 million in 2024, up from $180 million in 2019, driven largely by Ghanaian exports of gold, cocoa, and cashew nuts alongside Turkish imports of machinery and construction materials. Ghana’s participation in previous TABEF iterations—particularly the 2021 forum hosted in partnership with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), which included high-level delegations from Accra—has already yielded tangible outcomes, including joint ventures in agribusiness and renewable energy. 3
“Ghanaian businesses are uniquely positioned to leverage this forum for mutual gains,” said Gertrude Essie Quashiga, National Coordinator of the Ghana School Feeding Programme, who represented Ghana at the 2023 edition. “Our agricultural backbone aligns seamlessly with Türkiye’s expertise in high-quality production and processing technologies. Imagine the transformative impact of Turkish irrigation systems on our cocoa farms or collaborative food processing hubs that boost value addition for smallholder farmers.” 8 9 Quashiga’s sentiments echo a broader enthusiasm among Ghana’s private sector, where chambers of commerce and trade associations are mobilizing delegations focused on sustainable investments.
The event will draw over 5,000 participants from 54 African nations, including ministers, business leaders, and investors, fostering business-to-business (B2B) matchmaking sessions and sector-specific roundtables. For Ghanaian firms, key opportunities lie in agriculture—where Türkiye’s advanced seed varieties and machinery could enhance yields amid climate challenges—and infrastructure, with Turkish contractors eyeing projects under Ghana’s “Year of Infrastructure” initiative. Tourism and healthcare sectors also stand to benefit, as Türkiye’s world-class medical tourism model could inspire Ghana’s burgeoning wellness industry, while joint ventures in affordable pharmaceuticals address regional supply shortages. 4 6
Türkiye’s Trade Minister Ömer Bolat, speaking ahead of the forum, highlighted the continent-wide trade surge—now 7.5 times higher than two decades ago—as evidence of the partnerships’ vitality. “TABEF is more than a meeting; it’s a catalyst for new collaborations that ensure inclusive growth,” Bolat stated, noting recent signings of cooperation agreements between Turkish institutions and African counterparts. 10 In Ghana’s case, this aligns with the country’s ambitious Agenda 2063 aspirations, emphasizing intra-African trade and private sector-led development.
Ghana’s Ministry of Trade and Industry has urged local businesses to register early via DEİK’s portal, offering subsidized travel for select SMEs. “This is our moment to diversify beyond traditional markets and integrate into resilient global value chains,” said a ministry spokesperson. Early indications show strong interest from Ghanaian exporters in textiles, mining services, and digital logistics, sectors primed for Turkish technological infusions.
As the forum approaches, optimism is palpable in Accra’s business districts. With Türkiye’s “win-win” approach and Africa’s untapped potential, Ghanaian enterprises are not just attending—they’re arriving ready to invest, innovate, and integrate. TABEF 2025 could well mark the next chapter in a storied economic alliance, turning shared challenges into shared prosperity.