Uganda–Turkey trade surges as Minister Ngobi woos investors at business forum

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Uganda has recorded a remarkable surge in trade with Turkey, with exports rising from $40 million in 2019 to $91 million in 2023, signalling a positive shift in the balance of trade, particularly in coffee, cocoa, and other agricultural goods. 

Speaking at the Turkey–Africa Business and Economic Forum (TABEF) 2025, Uganda’s State Minister for Cooperatives, Fredrick Gume Ngobi, highlighted this trend and urged Turkish investors to pursue value addition ventures in Uganda.

The Minister noted that Uganda recently exported 2,000 60-kg bags of coffee to Türkiye, generating USD3.9 million in revenue from coffee exports alone in 2023. 

While Uganda continues to import Turkish electrical appliances and machinery, Ngobi emphasised a growing focus on processing raw materials locally to create jobs and drive industrialisation.

“Uganda offers vast opportunities. With a population of 44 million, access to the 90 million-strong COMESA market, and the upcoming African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), investors have access to a growing consumer base for value-added products,” Ngobi told delegates.

He encouraged investment in textiles, pointing out Uganda’s domestic cotton production, which can be transformed into finished goods for regional and continental markets.

His presentation followed the official opening of Turkey–Africa Business and Economic Forum (TABEF) 2025, which was officially opened on Thursday, October 16, 2025, at the Istanbul Congress Center, drawing over 4,000 delegates, including heads of state, ministers, business leaders, and development partners.

The forum was inaugurated by Turkey’s Minister of Trade, Omer Bolat, and the African Union Commission’s Commissioner for Economic Development, Francisca Belobe, signalling renewed commitment to deepening Turkey–Africa commercial partnerships under the theme "Leveraging Türkiye–Africa Relations for Mutual Gains."

Uganda is actively using the forum to market investment opportunities in infrastructure, agro-industrialisation, energy, tourism, and manufacturing, with officials from the Uganda Investment Authority, Ministry of Trade, and private sector holding strategic Business-to-Business (B2B) and Business-to-Government (B2G) meetings.

Key issues on the agenda include: financing infrastructure through Turkey’s Build–Operate–Transfer (BOT) model, boosting agriculture and food security initiatives, partnerships in renewable energy, mining, logistics, and civil aviation, promoting digital trade and textile manufacturing, as well as expanding market access and bilateral trade volumes.

The programme also features thematic panels, investment showcases, and a special session on Women’s Leadership and Entrepreneurship, co-hosted by Turkey’s First Lady Emine Erdoğan and Angola’s First Lady Ana Afonso Dias Lourenço.

The summit will conclude on October 17 (Today), with closing remarks by Türkiye’s President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and South Africa’s Vice President, reinforcing the continent's shared vision of prosperity through sustainable cooperation.
Uganda’s strategic pitch

Uganda’s participation aligns with its Vision 2040 and aims to position the country as a regional manufacturing and trade hub. By leveraging platforms like TABEF and partnerships with Türkiye, Uganda seeks not only to boost exports but to encourage industrial transformation at home through joint ventures, technology transfer, and job creation.