AT LEAST 20 Rwandan businesses from the country’s agro-processing, agriculture and food processing industry, will mid next month head to Turkey for the Turkey-World Trade Bridge 2014.

The event, which will take place from November 13-17 in the Turkish city of Izmir, will bring together at least 3,500 businesses  from over 135 countries.

It aims at boosting trade relations between Turkey and these countries.

The four-day trade mission is organised by the Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists of Turkey, Tuskon.

In a statement, Adem Sanliturk, the secretary general of the Rwanda Active Businessmen Association (Rwaba), said the trip will give local investors insights on how they can benefit from the vast business opportunities that Turkey presents.

"The mission is an opportunity for businesses from both countries to learn from each other and see how they can work together to promote trade and investment between the two countries. Participants will meet Turkish exporters and manufacturers, who will share their experiences on industrial development,” Sanliturk said.

The development is also seen as an opportunity to link local traders to European markets given Turkey’s strategic geographical location.

The event will also feature product exhibition, business-to-business meetings and a tour of Izmir industrial development zone.

Rwanda and Turkey in 2012 signed a memorandum of understanding that provides for a co-operation framework between the two countries in a bid to strengthen mutual understanding and investments.

Since then, at least 400 Rwandan businesses have gone on trade missions to Turkey, while Turkish has increasingly invested in the country.

Tuskon is a non-governmental and non-profit umbrella that brings together seven business federations and 211 business associations, representing 55,000 businesses and more than 140,000 companies in Turkey and beyond.