The Ambassador of Republic of Türkiye to Nigeria, Mehmet Poroy, has stressed the need for both countries to work harder to raise bilateral trade to $5 billion.

Poroy, who disclosed this during his official visit to Kaduna, where he met with officials of the Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KADCCIMA), said the current levels of about $2 billion is far below potential.

According to him, the current bilateral trade stands at about $2 billion, while Turkish investments in Nigeria are approximately $400 million dollars.

He noted that Nigeria, as one of Africa’s largest economies, holds vast opportunities for Turkish investors, adding that existing figures do not reflect the real potential.

Poroy described his engagement with the chamber as fruitful, stating that it marks the beginning of deeper collaboration and future sector-specific discussions.

He stressed the importance of partnership between government authorities and private sector players in both countries as a strategic method of achieving shared economic goals.

The envoy also highlighted the role of chambers of commerce as key intermediaries in fostering business relationships and facilitating trade expansion.

He said that mechanisms such as trade fairs, business delegations, and bilateral meetings would be deployed to strengthen cooperation between Nigeria and Türkiye.

Poroy further said that a Joint Economic Trade Commission framework had been established to monitor progress, address challenges, and propose solutions yearly.

He assured Nigerian business stakeholders of improved visa processing, noting that business visas to Türkiye can now be obtained within days to ease engagements.

The President of KADCCIMA, Alhaji Farouk Suleiman, described the ambassador’s visit as historic, as it represents the first engagement of its kind in more than 15 years.