17.10.2025 16:01
Speaking at the Turkey-Africa 5th Business and Economy Forum, President Erdoğan said, "In every country I visit, I feel not like I am in a foreign place, but in my own country, in my own home," and recited verses written by Nazım Hikmet 63 years ago.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made striking statements at the Turkey-Africa 5th Business and Economy Forum. Erdoğan, who said, "We have a friendship that dates back to the 10th century on the African continent," read verses written by Nazım Hikmet for the African peoples 63 years ago.
"IN EVERY COUNTRY I VISIT..."
Stating that he has made over 50 visits to the African continent during his term, Erdoğan expressed: "I am the first head of state to visit Mogadishu in 2011 after many years. I have been a guest of my brothers all over Africa. Thanks to these visits, I had the opportunity to get to know the warm environment of Africa. In every country I visited, I felt not in a foreign place, but in my own country, in my own home. 63 years ago, Nazım Hikmet addressed the African peoples as follows:
My brothers
don't be fooled by my blonde hair
I am Asian
don't be fooled by my blue eyes
I am African
trees do not provide shade to their own roots there
just like yours
there, the bread is in the mouth of the lion
dragons lie at the head of your fountains
and one dies there without stepping on fifty
just like there...
Highlights from Erdoğan's statements;
"I greet you on behalf of myself, my nation, and my family, and I say welcome to Turkey. I wish the 5th Turkey-Africa Business Forum to be beneficial.
I see that the forum we organized for the first time in 2016 has become a platform where concrete decisions are made with participants from all over Africa over time. During the two-day meetings, topics such as agriculture, food, energy, and mining were shared. Our guests had the opportunity to explain the investment environment in their countries to both other participants and the Turkish business world.
With its rapidly growing economy and geographical location at the center of three continents, Turkey's door is wide open to every investor and entrepreneur. All our institutions, our ministries, and the Presidential Investment Agency are ready to assist everyone who wants to invest in our country.
"WE HAVE OPENED A NEW PAGE IN OUR RELATIONS"
By declaring 2005 as the Year of Africa in our country, we opened a new page in our relations with the continent. In these 20 years, we have brought our relationship to unimaginable levels. We are extremely pleased that Turkey-Africa relations have reached the level of strategic partnership. We are celebrating the 20th anniversary of Turkey's observer status at the Africa Summit.
We have a friendship that dates back to the 10th century on the African continent. From Timbuktu to Harar, from Cairo to Cape Town, there are traces of this friendship. I am a politician who has made over 50 visits to the continent during my term. I am the first head of state to visit Mogadishu in 2011 after many years. I have been a guest of my brothers all over Africa. Thanks to these visits, I had the opportunity to get to know the warm environment of Africa.
"NATIONAL INCOME APPROACHED 17 THOUSAND DOLLARS"
The verses written during a period when Turkey was experiencing serious economic, political, and social crises reflect a universal solidarity. Those painful days are behind us. Thank God, Turkey has developed and changed a lot. We have made great strides on the path of development and prosperity.
As a G20 member, we are the 17th largest economy in the world at current prices. In 2024, we are ranked 12th according to purchasing power parity. Hopefully, we will rise to 11th place this year. We have recorded an average annual growth of 5.4% over 23 years. We have brought our national income, which was 238 billion in 2002, to the threshold of 1.5 trillion dollars in 2024. While our national income per capita was 3,608 dollars, it reached 14,751 dollars in 2024. By the second quarter of 2025, the national income approached 17 thousand dollars.
"OUR RESERVE TODAY IS 189.7 BILLION DOLLARS"
Our Central Bank reserves were 27 billion dollars; today they are 189.7 billion dollars. Our exports, which were 36 billion dollars, are now approaching 270 billion dollars. We have increased the number of tourists from 15 million to 62 million 270 thousand, and tourism revenue has exceeded 67 billion dollars. You know our success in the defense industry. While there were 8.5 million motor vehicles in 2002, today it has reached 33 million. We had 13 million buildings, and we doubled that to 26 million.