Africa’s trade corridors: A new map of opportunities for Turkish investors

Africa’s trade corridors are opening up major opportunities for investors, serving as strategic routes that unite investment, human resources, expertise, and digital transformation across the continent.

Speaking to Anadolu on the sidelines of the Türkiye–Africa Business and Economic Forum (TABEF) in Istanbul, Eric Melet, CEO of Africa Global Logistics (AGL), said the continent’s trade corridors play a vital role in economic growth. According to him, more than 15,000 of AGL’s 23,000 employees work directly in these corridors.

Organised by the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Türkiye (DEİK) in coordination with the African Union (AU), this year’s forum is being held under the theme “Leveraging Türkiye–Africa Relations for Mutual Gains.”

Melet highlighted that the routes connecting different parts of Africa are key to strengthening economic integration:

“For instance, to reach and effectively serve the Democratic Republic of Congo, one can use the East Africa route – particularly through Tanzania. The South African and West African routes, such as the Lobito Corridor where we operate the port, are also strategically important,” he said.

He underlined that finding the right business model is essential when investing in Africa’s private sector:

“Some projects have proved unprofitable. Therefore, investment should focus not only on capital but also on human resources. Africa has a huge talent pool, but training and developing this workforce through investment is crucial.”

Melet noted that AGL invests around $600 million in its African assets each year. He added that the West, South and East African corridors remain among the most attractive destinations for investors, but railway investments should be prioritised as they significantly accelerate corridor development.

According to Melet, the overall investment Africa receives still falls short of meeting the continent’s annual needs. However, Turkish companies are well positioned to bridge this gap:

“Turkish firms have the know-how, capacity, and deep geopolitical and historical ties with Africa. These make Türkiye a natural partner for the continent,” he emphasised.

He also revealed that AGL’s first investment outside Africa was in Türkiye, where the company has established a dedicated logistics team.

“Africa needs Türkiye as a partner and investor,” Melet said.

Economic observers note that this model of cooperation not only opens new horizons for African markets but also allows Turkish companies to strengthen their role within global value chains.

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