Benin sits in middle of a market of 500 million people

ISTANBUL- Speaking at the Turkey-Benin Trade and Investment Forum in Istanbul, President Yayi stressed that those investing in Benin were not merely investing in his country.

"Benin, at the same time, happens to be the gate that opens to the African continent," Yayi noted. "The foreign trade volume between Turkey and the African continent was 742 million USD a decade ago. Today, the foreign trade volume has reached 7 billion USD," Yayi stressed.

In the next 10 years, Africa's economic development would be strongest development in the world, Yayi stated.

"We want to work with you and request your assistance in agriculture. Africa is back and wants its voice to be heard," Yayi said. "We want to make progress by following Turkey's model. We want to offer great opportunities for investments to Turkish businesspeople. We want to offer you a market of 500 million people," Yayi stressed.

"I want to establish a Benin Business Forum in two months and organize a Turkish day. Turkish President Abdullah Gul promised us that he would send four planes load of Turkish businesspeople when we do establish the Benin Business Forum," Yayi indicated.

"President Gul will be our guest of honor in a meeting in January 2013," Yayi also said.