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Türkiye signed cooperation agreements with seven African countries this week to boost global transport connectivity, while Egypt expanded its strategic partnership with Türkiye to strengthen trade routes across Asia, Africa, and Europe during the Global Transport Connectivity Forum held in Istanbul between June 27 to 29.
Türkiye’s Transport and Infrastructure Minister Abdulkadir Uraloglu revealed that Türkiye signed Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) with Mauritania, Somalia, the Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Liberia, Guinea, and Ghana to enhance connectivity in transport. The agreements aim to establish direct links between African and Turkish ports and integrate the African continent with the Gulf-based Development Road and the Middle Corridor through Türkiye.
Uraloglu said the initiative will allow African nations to gain uninterrupted access to global trade corridors. By establishing these links, he added, African countries will connect directly to Asian markets and further to Europe, creating a seamless trade flow across continents.
The announcement came after a special session titled “Enhancing Connectivity of Global Transit Corridors Through Türkiye,” which brought together high-level representatives from Burkina Faso, the Republic of the Congo, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Ghana, Guinea, Morocco, Somalia, Mauritania, and Liberia. Namibia, Cote d'Ivoire, and Egypt also participated through deputy and embassy-level delegations.
In a parallel development, Egypt’s Transport Minister Kamel el-Wazir outlined ambitious plans for transport infrastructure during the forum, including port upgrades, regional railway networks, and intelligent transport corridors. His remarks came during the event on June 28. These efforts form part of Egypt’s broader strategy to develop sustainable and smart logistics systems, aimed at facilitating intra-African trade and supporting national economic targets.
Egypt, Türkiye’s largest African trading partner, is looking to deepen its logistics integration with Türkiye. Turkish Ambassador Salih Mutlu Sen noted that Turkish investments in Egypt reached $500 million this year alone, generating tens of thousands of direct and indirect jobs.
Adel el-Lami, head of the Egyptian-Turkish Business Council, emphasized that economic ties between the two countries have grown significantly since 2013. He added that increased shipping capacity through the Suez Canal and efforts to eliminate trade barriers will enhance the impact of the Transport Partnership.
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