Turkey to Connect Africa to Global Trade Corridors

Transportation and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloğlu provided information on the agreement they signed with the countries in Africa during the 'Global Transportation Corridors Forum'. Uraloğlu stated that they held a special session titled 'Enhancing Connectivity of Transit Corridors between Africa and Global through Turkey' within the forum, with the participation of ministers from Burkina Faso, Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Morocco, Somalia, Mauritania, and Liberia, Namibia's deputy undersecretary, and diplomatic representatives from Ivory Coast and Egypt. Uraloğlu highlighted that transportation projects and potential collaborations between Turkey and African countries were evaluated during the session. Following the session, they signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on Strengthening Transportation Connectivity with 7 African countries, namely Mauritania, Somalia, Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Liberia, Guinea, and Ghana. With this memorandum, direct connections will be established between African ports and Turkish ports. Through the agreement, the African continent will be integrated into the Belt and Road Initiative via the Gulf of Basra, and also connected to the Middle Corridor through Turkey. This will ensure uninterrupted access of the continent to global trade corridors, allowing Africa to directly participate in trade flows extending to Asian markets and then to Europe.