Turkey, PSFU set for 8th WCI-Forum in Istanbul

The Turkish Embassy in conjunction with the Private Sector Foundation Uganda (PSFU) have urged Ugandan businesses to take advantage of the bilateral relationship between Uganda and Turkey to access the Turkish market.

This ahead of the 8th World Cooperation Industries Forum (WCI-Forum) due for Istanbul, Turkey next month from the 21st to the 22nd March 2023.

According to the Honorary Consul to Antalya, Turkey, Emek Eker, the aim of the Forum is to increase trade volumes between Uganda and Turkey while offering an opportunity for Ugandan businesses to network and partner with other African businesses under one roof.

“This Forum will be focusing on African countries that will be looking forward to start trading with Turkey and this well be a good opportunity for them to meet with Turkish manufacturers and different sectors” Emek noted.

According to Emek, right now her government is specially focussing on African countries and Uganda is one of them.

Trade volumes between Uganda and Turkey rose from $41m in 2019, to $63m in 2020, before increasing further to $71m in 2021.

The organisers say that there is a customised package in terms of days that is tailor made for attendees whereby one can opt for another if they wish too.

“The Forum will see entry tickets, refreshments and meals taken care of within the package and on 23rd there will be sight-seeing tours which will be organised.

The reason why we have kind of clubbed is to create an experience that customers need to have with various attendees from other parts of the country but also its more engaging with other contacts to meet different people and not just the business approach.

There is sight-seeing tours and believe you me, Turkey a destination where you might keep going and each time you go, you feel that you have come for the first time, it is that warmth and experience that you get when you travel,” according to Sarina Carrasco, the managing Director, Voyager Global Solutions.

The CEO, Gotovate Tours and Travel, Lawrence Byamukama Rwebishenye , said that all 54 African countries are going to participate and right now they will not encourage late registration.

Sabiiti Kashaka Ruth, Director, Gotovate urged government departments and the parliament of Uganda to take advantage of the forum to bench mark, while Turkey is leading in business such as textile, mining, construction, packaging furniture all who will be all be gathered in one venue and will discourage corruption in procurement.

The Manager Member services, PSFU, Mulongo Ronnie, remarked that online registration will enable ease in doing business-to-business linkages, to save time and that they are looking at WCI as an opportunity to grow their businesses.

Regarding registration, the Honorary Consul to Antalya, Emek Eker disclosed that it will close at the end of the first week of March.

The consul added that the Feb. 6 earthquakes — of magnitudes 7.8 and 7.5 — hit the southern part of the country close to Syria and did not in any way affect the venue in Istanbul.

The Forum is expected to attract About 100 Ugandan businesses.

Government says it is targeting to raise over $6bn from exporting 13 specific products including dairy, coffee, fish, bananas, and tourism among others.