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.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Paris on Wednesday in a rare visit by an Iranian top diplomat in recent years....
Russia has proposed a comprehensive programme to equip the forces of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) with modern weaponry, aimed at...
French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to visit China from 3 to 5 December 2025, during which he will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping....
Rescuers in Thailand readied drones on Thursday to airdrop food parcels, as receding floodwaters in the south and neighbouring Malaysia brightened hop...
French health experts are warning that the highly pathogenic H5 strain of bird flu, already devastating wild and farm animals, could evolve into a vir...
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Paris on Wednesday in a rare visit by an Iranian top diplomat in recent years.
Russia has proposed a comprehensive programme to equip the forces of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) with modern weaponry, aimed at strengthening collective security across the Eurasian region.
The European Parliament has approved a non-binding resolution calling for a minimum age of 16 for social media access across the EU, citing rising concerns about children’s mental health and online safety.
French President Emmanuel Macron is scheduled to visit China from 3 to 5 December 2025, during which he will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Venezuela says it has deployed a range of weapons, including decades-old Russian-made equipment, and plans to mount guerrilla-style resistance in the event of an air or ground assault particularly from the U.S.
A passenger aircraft from Polish carrier LOT veered off a taxiway at Lithuania's Vilnius airport after arriving from Warsaw on Wednesday, halting all traffic, the airport operator said.
A major fire continues to rage at a warehouse in Southall, west London, sending thick plumes of black smoke into the sky hours after it first broke out.
The Hayli Gubbi volcano in Ethiopia’s Afar region erupted on Sunday morning (23 November), covering nearby villages in ash.
At least 36 people have died in a fire that ravaged a residential apartment complex on Wednesday according to John Lee the chief executive of Hong Kong.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi visited Paris on Wednesday in a rare visit by an Iranian top diplomat in recent years.
Russia has proposed a comprehensive programme to equip the forces of the Collective Security Treaty Organisation (CSTO) with modern weaponry, aimed at strengthening collective security across the Eurasian region.
Baku is hosting the 12th meeting of the Organisation of Turkic States (OTS) Media and Information Working Group, on Thursday, where key representatives are discussing media collaboration and coordination among member states.
Uzbekistan is hosting the Third European Union–Central Asia Economic Forum, bringing together government representatives, international organisations and private-sector leaders from 32 countries.
Georgia’s political leadership has sharply criticised NATO’s long-standing hesitation on memberships, accusing the alliance of 'finger-pointing'.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment