Turkey has expressed readiness to play a major role in Gabon’s 2025 Development Program, with a focus on trade, investment, and infrastructure, Trade Minister Omer Bolat announced Friday at the Turkey-Gabon Business Forum in Istanbul.
Bolat said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s recent meeting with Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema in Ankara was highly productive, resulting in the signing of eight cooperation agreements.
“Our goal is to raise Turkey-Gabon trade to much higher levels,” Bolat said. “Following these agreements, we will strengthen ties in trade, investment, contracting, energy, fishing, and agriculture, working alongside our Gabonese partners.”
Highlighting Turkey’s defense industry success, with over $7 billion in exports last year and a target of $8.5 billion for 2025, Bolat noted Gabon’s new five-year military investment plan. “Turkey is ready to contribute to Gabon’s defense infrastructure and capability needs,” he added.
Turkish companies have already carried out 22 major construction projects in Gabon worth $2.7 billion. Bolat stressed that Turkish contractors are prepared to help deliver Gabon’s national social housing program.
Nail Olpak, head of Turkey’s Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK), said Gabon’s infrastructure expansion in ports and railways creates opportunities for Turkish companies. “While trade between Turkey and Gabon remains limited today, it will reach significant levels step by step,” Olpak said.
He urged Gabonese businesses to invest in Turkey, citing opportunities in energy, agriculture, and industry.