• Charcoal, sesame seeds top export
The volume of trade between Nigeria and Turkey has risen to $1.538 billion, with Nigeria having a favourable trade balance.
While trade transactions from Turkey to Nigeria in the years under review were $438 million, Nigeria to Turkey stood at $1.1 billion.
Association of Businessmen and Investors of Nigerian and Turkey (ABINAT) Director Mr. Mehmet Ozleyen said more business- men from Turkey are showing more interest in trading with Nigeria.
“Now we have more of Nigerian businessmen exporting charcoal and sesame seeds to Turkey, with more products to follow,” he said.
He said investors from Turkey had visited Nigeria on trade missions, noting that some of them have established their companies in the country.
He said: “Our aim as an organisation is to encourage more of our people to come to Nigeria and establish their companies here, so that instead of Nigeria going to Turkey to buy finished products they can buy here and save foreign exchange.
“On the other hand, we also encourage Nigerian businessmen to export their products to Turkey and equally go there on trade mission to see what they can sell and bring foreign earnings to the country.”
Ozyleven said more investors were being expected from Turkey after the Ramadan.
He said ABINAT organises and promotes links with Turkish partners, networking and referral services, facilitating business trip to Turkey, bridging the gap between importers and exporters, creating direct investment and preferred attendance to international conference.
“We normally hold an international trade fair, conference, in-house events that is focused on increasing trade volumes and wide recognition between Turkey and Nigeria in various sectors which includes but not limited to construction, agriculture, furniture, machinery, auto spare parts, household appliances, textile and energy,” he added.