President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan paid a critical visit to Ethiopia, the strategic country of the Horn of Africa, after an 11-year hiatus. Meeting with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in the capital, Addis Ababa, Erdoğan presented his counterpart with the Togg T10X, symbolizing Türkiye's technology vision.
President Erdoğan's visit to Ethiopia once again revealed the depth of Türkiye's Africa policy. During the meeting where centuries-old relations were discussed, diplomatic tradition was upheld, and Togg, a product of Turkish engineering, was presented to the Ethiopian Prime Minister as a token of friendship. Yet, the part of the visit that truly resonated was the data shared regarding Türkiye's economic and political weight in the region.
Togg in Addis Ababa for Technological Prestige
Following the meeting, President Erdoğan gifted Türkiye's indigenous electric car, Togg, to Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed. This gesture carries symbolic importance in demonstrating to the African continent that Türkiye has developed capabilities not only in construction or textiles but also in high-technology products. Rather than being a commercial export item, Togg took its place in the diplomatic inventory as a part of Türkiye's soft power.
Türkiye: The Second Largest Power in the Economy
The economic data shared during the visit clarified the dimensions of the relationship. President Erdoğan emphasized that Türkiye is the second-largest foreign investor in Ethiopia.
The power of Türkiye in Ethiopia in figures:
- $2.5 Billion Investment: Over 200 Turkish firms operating in the country provide a lifeline to the economy with investments of approximately $2.5 billion.
- 20,000 Jobs: Turkish companies provide employment opportunities for approximately 20,000 Ethiopians.
- Giant Projects in Contracting: Turkish contractors have undertaken 15 projects with a total value of $2.6 billion in infrastructure areas such as railways, factories, and power lines.
The two leaders confirmed the goal of carrying the existing potential even higher and reaching a trade volume of $1 billion.
Ankara Process for Regional Peace
One of the most important files in Erdoğan's portfolio was regional security. Referring to the mediation role Türkiye plays in the tension between Ethiopia and Somalia (the Ankara Process), Erdoğan warned that the Horn of Africa should not become a competition ground for foreign powers.
Stating that steps such as Israel's recognition of Somaliland would not benefit the region, Erdoğan underscored Türkiye's stability-oriented policy with the message, Regional countries should produce solutions to problems.
