From January 12–16, 2026, a delegation of Turkish exporters will visit Addis Ababa to tap into Ethiopia’s booming infrastructure, textile, and agriculture sectors.
In a decisive move to revitalize trade relations in East Africa, a high-level Turkish trade delegation is departing for Addis Ababa today. Coordinated by the Ministry of Trade and organized by the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM), the mission aims to reverse the recent decline in trade volume and establish long-term industrial partnerships in Ethiopia, one of Africa’s fastest-growing economies.
The delegation, scheduled to conduct meetings until January 16, 2026, includes representatives from diverse sectors such as:
- Construction & Building Materials: Capitalizing on Ethiopia’s massive urban housing projects.
- Machinery & Food Processing: Supporting the country’s push for agricultural industrialization.
- Textiles & Ready-to-Wear: Exploring Ethiopia’s 13 eco-friendly industrial parks.
- Energy & Electrical Equipment: Providing solutions for the ongoing national electrification effort.
Analyzing the Trade Gap: A Strategic Recovery The trade mission comes at a critical time. While Türkiye’s exports to Ethiopia peaked at $384 million in 2015, they have faced a downward trend in recent years, reaching $197.2 million in 2024. For the first 11 months of 2025, exports totaled approximately $135 million.
Currently, four main product groups—construction steel, pharmaceuticals, woven carpets, and wheat flour—account for more than 90% of Türkiye’s total sales to the country. On the import side, Türkiye’s purchases from Ethiopia amounted to $42.5 million in 2024, dominated by sesame seeds, coffee, pulses, and linen yarns.
The “Iron and Steel” Opportunity Ethiopia’s domestic iron and steel production capacity remains limited despite a nationwide construction boom. This creates a massive opening for Turkish producers. “Our exporters have a significant competitive edge due to our high-quality construction steel and competitive logistics,” industry analysts noted.
Beyond traditional commodities, the Easy Export Platform reveals new high-growth niches:
- Wheat Products: Averaging 125% annual growth over the last five years.
- Seafood: Emerging as a high-potential category with a 140% growth rate.
- Defense: A notable increase in the export of arms and ammunition over the last 24 months.
A Secure Investment Landscape Turkish firms are encouraged by existing legal frameworks, including the “Prevention of Double Taxation” and “Reciprocal Promotion and Protection of Investments” agreements. With the Ethiopian Investment Commission (EIC) planning a High-Level Business Forum in March 2026, the current January delegation serves as the preliminary ground-clearing exercise for large-scale Turkish FDI (Foreign Direct Investment) in Ethiopian mining, IT, and tourism.
Citations & References
- TİM (Turkish Exporters Assembly): “Etiyopya (Addis Ababa) Ticaret Heyeti 12-16 Ocak 2026 Taslak Programı.” (January 2026).
- Republic of Türkiye Ministry of Trade: “Kolay İhracat Platformu – Etiyopya Pazar Analizi ve Sektörel Büyüme Raporu.”
- Hürriyet Daily News: “Türkiye seeks multi-sector cooperation with Ethiopia” (January 12, 2026).
- Trading Economics: “Turkey Exports to Ethiopia – Historical Data & 2024 Statistics.”
