By Diyar Guldogan

KONYA, Turkey

Turkey's Independent Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (MUSIAD) wants to be "active" in Africa, Abdurrahman Kaan, president of the body said on Wednesday.

"We aim to be active in 30 African countries by the end of this year," Kaan said at the opening ceremony of two-day Turkey-Africa Economic Forum in the central Turkish province of Konya.

He added MUSIAD was in negotiations to open representation offices in Ethiopia, Ghana, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Somalia and Democratic Republic of Congo.

"We are studiously working to expand our organization in Africa [...]," he said.

Kaan reminded the participants that the business body has branches in South Africa, Sudan and Nigeria, and representatives in Benin, Ivory Coast, Mauritania, Niger, Senegal, Morocco and Chad.

He said MUSIAD had 197 branches in 73 countries.

Addressing the forum, Food, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Ahmet Esref Fakibaba said Turkey stands with Africa both materially and morally.

"We will set forth formulas, with which both sides can win, because we know very well how important Africa is," Fakibaba said.

He added a total of 30 bilateral agreements in the areas of food, agriculture and livestock had been signed with African countries.

Omer Faruk Okka, head of the MUSIAD branch in Konya, said the bilateral trade volume between Turkey and Africa was increasing every day.

He added that more than 150 businesspeople and 33 ambassadors from African countries were attending the forum to discuss Turkey's investment opportunities in Africa.