Distinguished Ministers,
Honourable Guests,
Dear Friends,
I am honoured to welcome you all to Antalya.
As we conclude the Fifth Antalya Diplomacy Forum, I hope that you all enjoyed and benefited from it.
Our Africa receptions at the ADF became a tradition within a tradition.
This year, we welcomed 63 invitees from the continent, including 6 heads of state or government.
That, in itself, speaks volumes about the strong bonds and synergy between Africa and Türkiye.
Since we launched our African Initiative Policy in 1998, Türkiye has been a dedicated partner of the continent.
When we look at Africa, we see a continent of extraordinary promise.
African nations are dynamic, full of capability and ambition, with diversifying and deepening economies.
We also recognize the strategic vision and regional ownership displayed by the leadership of the African Union.
Africa is already a centre of gravity, and its pull will only grow stronger.
Under the leadership of President Erdoğan, we have been determined to match the immense potential of Africa with sincere partnership.
Since 2010, we have increased the number of our embassies across the continent from 14 to 44.
Between 2010 and 2025, the number of ministerial visits to Africa nearly matched the total number of the entire preceding four decades.
Our bilateral trade has grown thirteenfold. (from 3 billion to 36.6 billion US Dollars)
Our Business Councils have expanded from 9 to 48.
Turkish Airlines now connects 64 African destinations, up from just 9 in 2010.
Our demand-driven model to technical aid and development cooperation is another pillar of our foreign policy in Africa.
22 offices of Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency in the continent act as the locomotives for such partnerships.
We aim to increase this number further.
AFAD and our NGO network led by the Turkish Red Crescent also remain highly active in the field, side by side with our African brothers and sisters.
Through the Türkiye Maarif Foundation, we are also deepening educational ties in ways that will have lasting generational impact.
And yearly, over 62.000 African students pursue their education in Türkiye, twelve times more than a decade prior.
Dear Colleagues,
Mediation and peaceful resolution of conflicts are key tenets of our foreign policy in Africa as well.
A key example is the Ankara Process between Somalia and Ethiopia.
We are always ready when asked for, to promote peace over conflict.
In accordance with our comprehensive approach to security, we have also deepened the strategic dimension of our partnerships in Africa.
In the defence sector, we are proud that Turkish companies are increasingly the partners of choice for African nations.
By prioritizing training, capacity building, and joint production, we ensure that our defence cooperation remains rooted in the principle of equal partnership.
Dear Guests,
Africa-Türkiye cooperation now covers a vast range of areas, including energy, climate, and food security.
As a reflection of our commitment to food security, we have nominated Dr. Mehdi Eker, Türkiye's longest-serving Minister of Agriculture, and my dear friend, for the position of Director-General of the FAO.
We believe that Mr. Eker is the perfect candidate to advance the voice and interests of the Global South.
We are looking forward to your valuable support for his candidacy.
Dear Friends,
What we have built together so far is the foundation for our future achievements.
Going forward, we aim to further deepen and broaden our cooperation across all sectors.
We see Regional Economic Communities in Africa as a crucial driver for advancing robust economic ties.
There is no limit to what African-Turkish synergy can achieve.
Our next major milestone, the Fourth Africa-Türkiye Partnership Summit, will be held in Libya by the end of 2026.
This will be a historic opportunity to elevate our partnership to new heights.
Thank you, once again, for your valuable contributions to the ADF and for joining us today.
I look forward to continuing our conversation during the reception.