“I Am Because We Are”

The concept of “Republic” stands as a century-old tale of our nation’s independence… It’s an unparalleled feeling to bear witness to the 100th anniversary of our Republic, celebrated with immense pride, and to collectively experience this enthusiasm. The words of Atatürk, “Peace at Home, Peace in the World,” which we hold as our guiding light, carry immense significance in these challenging global times and will echo indefinitely. Indeed, the world is going through challenging times. On one side, conflicts persist, while on the other, there are global crises.

Nevertheless, not too long ago, when the entire world grappled with the reality of the pandemic, we came to realize that our existence is interdependent in numerous ways. While we may tend to forget the past, I steadfastly believe that peace and friendship remain the most crucial accomplishments in the world. Africa embraces an elegant philosophy known as “ubuntu,” reflecting the understanding that “I am because we are”. This philosophy encourages consideration for the well-being of the collective and all living beings, transcending the interests of each individual. Similarly, in our interactions with Africa, we safeguard not only our own interests but also the mutual benefit of society by embracing the win-win principle. The fourth Türkiye-Africa Business and Economic Forum (TABEF) took place in Istanbul on October 12-13 under the theme of “Addressing challenges, paving the way for opportunities.”

DEİK remains dedicated to its commercial diplomacy endeavours to bolster commercial cooperation and elevate investments across the African continent. In this issue, crafted specifically for TABEF, we delved into Türkiye-Africa relations, the strides made, and the reverberations of the TABEF event as the cover story. We conducted our cover interview with Prof. Dr Ömer Bolat, Minister of Trade of the Republic of Türkiye. In the file section, while examining bilateral relations and commercial activities between Japan and Türkiye, Takahiko Katsumata, Japanese Ambassador to Türkiye, discussed our robust ties with Japan.

Enjoy your reading.