ACCI, Türkiye Deepen Trade Ties, Target Local Manufacturing, Business Missions and Investment Opportunities
November 8, 2026
The Abuja Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ACCI) and the Turkish Embassy in Nigeria have renewed their commitment to strengthening bilateral trade and investment relations, with a focus on business-to-business (B2B) partnerships, local manufacturing, trade missions, investment facilitation, and expanded commercial opportunities for businesses in both countries.
The commitment was reaffirmed when the President of ACCI, Chief Emeka Obegolu, SAN, received a five-men delegation led by the Ambassador of Türkiye to Nigeria, Amb. Mehmet Poroy, during a courtesy visit to the Chamber. Chief Obegolu described Türkiye as an important trade partner of Nigeria, noting its growing business presence in the country, particularly in hospitality, food production and manufacturing.
He called for a more structured approach to bilateral business engagement through sector-specific virtual meetings, B2B matchmaking and organised trade missions that would connect interested Nigerian entrepreneurs with credible Turkish businesses. He also urged Turkish manufacturers to establish production plants in Nigeria, assuring the Ambassador of ACCI’s readiness to facilitate such investments through its network of over 5,000 registered companies.
Ambassador Poroy reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to expanding its economic partnership with Nigeria, emphasising that direct people-to-people contacts and B2B engagements were essential to building sustainable business relationships. He disclosed that the Embassy was encouraging Turkish companies to participate in Nigerian trade exhibitions and was working to expand their presence beyond Lagos to Abuja and Kano.
He also announced a more flexible business visa arrangement under which qualified businesspeople could obtain visas, including multiple-entry visas, directly through the Embassy in Abuja without referral to immigration authorities in Ankara. The Ambassador further revealed plans to facilitate a Nigerian business delegation to Türkiye to explore investment opportunities and engage prospective partners, subject to the conclusion of forthcoming elections.
As an immediate step towards translating the discussions into business opportunities, the Ambassador announced that a Turkish business delegation specialising in the furniture sector would visit Abuja on December 1, 2026, for a B2B engagement at Abuja Continental Hotel. He invited ACCI members operating in the furniture sector to participate and encouraged the Chamber to submit the names of interested businesspeople through the Embassy’s Commercial Service for visa facilitation. He assured the Chamber of the Embassy’s readiness to work together towards advancing their shared objective of increasing bilateral trade.
The ACCI 2nd Deputy President, Dr Aliyu Idi Hong, welcomed the initiative and highlighted the growing interest of Nigerian entrepreneurs in Turkish products and the country’s business environment. He called for a designated contact person within the Turkish Embassy to facilitate business visa applications and strengthen communication between the Chamber and Turkish commercial authorities. He noted that a more direct institutional arrangement would ease access for businesspeople seeking to establish or expand commercial relationships with Türkiye.
Similarly, the ACCI Vice President, Finance, Dr Iliyasu Gashinbaki, shared his experience of working with Turkish partners through the ABIS Group, which is developing an abattoir in the Idu Industrial Area of the FCT. He described the relationship as commendable and disclosed that plans were underway to extend livestock processing facilities to Plateau and Taraba States, in addition to the FCT. While appreciating the Ambassador’s support, he identified visa processing as an area requiring continued attention to facilitate business travel and the movement of technical partners between both countries.
The Vice President, Technology, Skills and Digital Economy, Dr Chigozie Igwe, advocated a transition from import-dependent trade to local manufacturing, component assembly and industrial production. Drawing from his experience in the plastics manufacturing sector, he expressed interest in exploring Türkiye as an alternative source of raw materials, citing its geographical proximity and the potential to reduce transportation and freight costs. He noted that stronger connections facilitated through the Chamber would enable Nigerian manufacturers to identify reliable Turkish suppliers and explore mutually beneficial industrial partnerships.
The Executive Director, ACCI Trade and Investment Centre, Mr Ezekwesili Nnaemeka Nnam, called for a structured institutional relationship between the Turkish Embassy and ACCI, similar to existing arrangements with China and India. He proposed a dedicated commercial liaison to coordinate trade missions, business delegations and other engagements. He also urged Türkiye to explore scholarship opportunities, professional training, exchange programmes and capacity-building initiatives for Nigerian businesspeople, noting that ACCI members had benefited from similar opportunities through partnerships with other countries, including training slots in China and postgraduate scholarship opportunities in Japan.
The Director-General of ACCI, Mr Agabaidu Jideani, commended the Ambassador and his delegation for the visit and the constructive discussions on trade collaboration and investment partnerships. He assured the delegation that the Chamber would follow up on the areas identified and work with relevant stakeholders to translate the proposals into tangible business opportunities.
Also speaking, the Director-General of Nigeria-Türkiye Business Council Ltd/GTE, Mrs Uche Osoka, disclosed that several of the issues raised were already being pursued by the Council, which was transitioning from predominantly physical engagements to a combination of virtual meetings and direct business interactions. She announced plans to host the African Economy Forum in 2027, noting that Nigeria had a statutory slot in the initiative because of Türkiye’s strategic interest in the country. She further revealed ongoing engagements with two Turkish academic institutions to expand training and capacity-building opportunities, while commending improvements in visa facilitation through the Council’s collaboration with relevant institutions, including export associations in Türkiye.
The meeting underscored the shared determination of both countries to move beyond diplomatic goodwill towards practical business partnerships, increased investment flows and industrial collaboration. The ACCI delegation was joined by the Deputy Director-General, Dr Tinuke Temitope; the General Counsel, Hajia Hauwa Kaka Usman; and other senior management staff of the Chamber, who participated in discussions aimed at strengthening Nigeria-Türkiye economic relations.
Olayemi John-Mensah
ACCI Media & Strategy Officer
