Economic Prospecting: 27 Turkish Business Leaders Eye the Ivorian Market

When economic diplomacy meets entrepreneurial ambition, Ivory Coast’s economic capital becomes a true laboratory for future partnerships. On Tuesday, December 16, 2025, Abidjan hosted the Côte d’Ivoire–Türkiye B2B meetings, organized by the Assembly of Turkish Exporters (TIM), in collaboration with the Turkish Embassy in Côte d’Ivoire and the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Côte d’Ivoire (CCI-CI).

This high-level event brought together 27 business leaders from Türkiye and numerous Ivorian economic operators with a shared goal: to transform the excellence of diplomatic relations between Abidjan and Ankara into concrete, sustainable, and mutually beneficial economic partnerships.

On behalf of CCI-CI President Touré Faman, currently abroad, Vice President Zaumana Coulibaly warmly welcomed the Turkish delegation. “Akwaba in Côte d’Ivoire!” he declared, highlighting the growing vitality of bilateral exchanges. He reminded participants that Türkiye now occupies a strategic position in Ivorian trade and investment.

Turkish investments, estimated at over $600 million, position Türkiye among the country’s leading foreign investors. In key sectors such as construction, agri-food, textiles, leather goods, and infrastructure, Turkish companies actively contribute to implementing Ivorian government priorities, including housing, urban development, and industrialization.

Speaking at the event, Musa Arı, Commercial Counselor at the Turkish Embassy in Abidjan, provided a compelling overview of bilateral cooperation. “Our trade exchanges will reach the symbolic threshold of one billion dollars this year,” he announced, emphasizing that the Ivorian-Turkish relationship goes far beyond the trade of goods.

This cooperation also extends to strategic areas such as health, education, and academic mobility. Nearly 1,000 Ivorian students joined Türkiye last year, while thousands of Ivorian patients access specialized healthcare there annually.

In 2023, Türkiye became the second-largest investor in Côte d’Ivoire, confirming a partnership based on trust and long-term collaboration.

TIM: A Export Powerhouse Focused on Africa

For Ahmet Güleç, Vice President of the Turkish Exporters’ Assembly, Côte d’Ivoire stands as a strategic gateway to West Africa. “With the Port of Abidjan and its vast hinterland, Côte d’Ivoire is a natural logistics and commercial hub,” he stated.

The Assembly of Turkish Exporters represents over 150,000 exporters, grouped into 61 sectoral associations. In 2024, Turkish exports to Côte d’Ivoire reached $269 million, driven by grains, cement, chemicals, electrical and electronic equipment, and industrial machinery. Despite a slight cyclical slowdown, the trend over the past decade remains strongly upward.

Supported by CEPICI, Côte d’Ivoire Export, and business organizations from both countries, these B2B exchanges offer Ivorian and Turkish companies a privileged platform to build win-win partnerships based on innovation, knowledge transfer, and value creation.

In a global context marked by economic uncertainties, the resilience of the Ivorian economy and the strength of Türkiye’s industrial base stand out as major assets. Abidjan confirms its status as a regional economic hub, where the economic alliances of tomorrow between Africa and Eurasia are taking shape.