Ghanaians explore business opportunities in Turkey

A 20-member delegation of businessmen and women have explored business opportunities in Turkey.

The group drawn from various sectors, including housing, microfinance, agriculture, and clothing joined other African and Turkish entrepreneurs at the maiden Turkey-Africa women entrepreneurs trade bridge conference in Istanbul, the commercial city of Turkey.

Organisers of the conference, the Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists of Turkey (TUSCON), said the programme was designed to bring together 340 women entrepreneurs from the African Continent and 450 Turkish women entrepreneurs.

The conference which started on February 27, 2014 ended on March 1, promoted 5,400 bilateral business meetings between the Turkish and the African participants.

Apart from the business networking opportunities, the African delegation also enjoyed a city tour of Istanbul, a taste of Turkish culture and field visits to companies, factories and industrial zones.

Mrs Helena Stephens, the Chief Executive Officer of Kaysens Gaisie Limited,  a company that deals in the supply of fast-moving consumer goods, said she was in Turkey to network with manufacturers.

She said the field visits to the Turkish companies would help them to learn some good practices, while the conference also enabled them to connect with other business operators in Africa.

Another member of the Ghanaian delegation, Akwasi Addai of Odike Ventures, explained that he had participated in earlier trips organised by other Ghanaian organisations to Turkey which had resulted in major business partnerships with Turkish companies.

TUSCON is a non-governmental umbrella organisation representing seven business federations and 211 business associations in Turkey.

The President of TUSCON, Mr Rizanur Meral, stated that the organisation was poised to build a strong business relationship between Turkey and the rest of the world, especially Africa.