Guinea's Minister of Industry and Commerce, Aboubacar KOUROUMA, recently led a delegation to Türkiye to strengthen economic ties and explore new investment opportunities. The visit aimed to transform Guinea's resources, develop industrial partnerships, and open up new commercial prospects. During the trip, KOUROUMA participated in the African "Agriconnect" forum, where he met with Turkish business leaders and presented Guinea's economic ambitions.
The Agriconnect forum, which focused on sharing experiences and identifying opportunities in agriculture and agricultural transformation, brought together several African delegations, including ministers of commerce from Türkiye and Senegal. KOUROUMA highlighted the inclusive and pan-African nature of Guinea's Simandou 2040 socio-economic development program, which aims to enable Africa to take its rightful place in global value chains by developing its own production and processing capabilities.
KOUROUMA emphasized Guinea's commitment to transforming its resources locally, rather than exporting them raw. He stressed the government's desire to make agriculture a key driver of the economy, citing the valorization of agricultural land and the development of local processing as essential tools for creating value and jobs in Guinea. This approach is expected to help the country maximize its economic benefits and create more employment opportunities.
The Guinean delegation also met with representatives from MÜSİAD, a Turkish employers' organization that includes industrial and commercial companies. Discussions with investors from sectors such as construction and trade focused on strengthening economic relations between the two countries. Both parties reaffirmed their commitment to intensifying efforts to reach the common goal of $500 million in economic and commercial exchanges.
KOUROUMA and his delegation also met with Ahmet Albayrak, Chairman of the Albayrak Group's Board of Directors. After a presentation on the group's history, the parties discussed its activities in Guinea and explored prospects for short-term, medium-term, and long-term development. KOUROUMA invited the group to strengthen its participation in Guinea's industrialization, particularly in agricultural processing.
The two sides agreed to quickly continue discussions to identify concrete projects that could be implemented as soon as possible, benefiting both countries. This meeting marked a significant step towards enhancing cooperation between Guinea and Türkiye, with a focus on agro-industry and investments. The projects are expected to contribute to Guinea's economic growth and development.
The visit by KOUROUMA and his delegation demonstrates Guinea's efforts to diversify its economy and attract foreign investment. By strengthening partnerships with Turkish companies, Guinea aims to leverage Türkiye's expertise and experience in various sectors, including agriculture and industry. The outcome of these discussions is expected to have a positive impact on Guinea's economic development and its relations with Türkiye.
Key points
- Guinea aims to increase its economic and commercial exchanges with Türkiye to $500 million.
- The Simandou 2040 program seeks to enable Africa to develop its own production and processing capabilities.
- Guinea is focusing on transforming its agricultural resources locally to create value and jobs.
