ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia

The upcoming Africa - Turkey Africa Economic and Business Forum in Istanbul will boost trade and investment between Ethiopia and Turkey, Ankara's Ambassador to Ethiopia and the African Union said Tuesday.

The remarks by Yaprak Alp came during the signing of a framework agreement between Turkey and the African Union (AU) to organize and manage the third Turkey - Africa Economic and Business Forum on Oct. 21- 22.

The agreement was signed by Alp and the AU's Commissioner for Economic Development Trade, Industry and Mining Albert Muchanga.

The forum has been organized since 2016 and this year's meeting will be held under the theme, “Deepening Turkey-Africa Partnership: Trade, Investment, and Technology & Logistics.”

During the signing of the agreement at the AU's headquarters in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa, Alp told Anadolu Agency that Turkey maintains a variety of long-standing relations with Africa.

“But the issue of economy and trade is the most important part of our relationship with Africa,” she said, adding that the meeting will be a huge gathering of more than 30 African ministers and businessmen from the continent and Turkey.

“The forum which has been taking place since 2016, made business-to-business and government-to-business engagements and has contributed to an increased flow of investment and business between Turkey and Africa.”

Muchanga said the forum will showcase diverse African participation.

“The forum is a cooperation between Africa and Turkey and it is government-driven,” he said. “But it is to be very inclusive. We will bring civil society and business people, ministers from Africa and the AU will also participate.''

He added that the goal of the meeting is to “promote and increase trade and investment between Africa and Turkey and the forum which begun in 2016 and contributed to the growth of trade between the two sides.”​​​​​​​