Togo and Turkey are exploring the creation of a direct logistics corridor linking the Port of Lomé with the Port of Mersin, in a move aimed at accelerating trade and strengthening maritime cooperation between the two countries.
The proposal was discussed in Lomé over the weekend during talks between Kokou Edem Tengue, Togo’s Minister Delegate for Maritime Affairs, and Turkey’s ambassador to Togo, Muteber Kılıç. Officials said a memorandum of understanding is being drafted to formalise the initiative.
“I held a productive working session with H.E. Ms. Muteber Kılıç, Turkish Ambassador to Togo. Our discussions focused on strengthening the maritime partnership, marked by the forthcoming submission of a Memorandum of Understanding by the Turkish side,” Tengue said.
The planned corridor seeks to streamline trade flows between West Africa and the eastern Mediterranean, reduce transit times and enhance the competitiveness of both port platforms.
For Ankara, the initiative would leverage Lomé’s strategic coastal position to access landlocked West African markets, notably Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali. The Port of Lomé serves as a key transit gateway for these hinterland countries, handling significant volumes of goods destined for the Sahel region.
The Port of Mersin, Turkey’s leading container hub, acts as a major interface between Anatolia, Central Asia and the Mediterranean basin. A direct maritime link would strengthen connectivity between West Africa and Eurasian markets, officials said.
Lomé has been positioning itself as a regional logistics hub, investing in port modernisation and expanding its container capacity. Authorities say closer cooperation with Turkey could extend beyond maritime transport to include industrial zones, particularly in textiles and energy.
Bilateral trade between the two countries has grown rapidly in recent years, rising from US$128 million in 2021 to about $270 million in 2025, according to Togolese officials.
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“With US$270 million in trade already, the challenge now is to shift into a higher gear to boost our international competitiveness by creating a direct, high-performance logistics corridor between the Port of Lomé and the Port of Mersin,” Tengue said.
Analysts say that if implemented, the corridor could reinforce Lomé’s status as a gateway to West Africa while deepening Turkey’s commercial footprint on the continent, at a time when Ankara has been expanding economic and diplomatic ties across Africa.
Togo has in recent years positioned itself as a regional logistics and transshipment hub, leveraging the strategic location of the Port of Lomé on the Gulf of Guinea. The port is one of the few deep-water facilities in West Africa capable of handling large container vessels and operates as a key gateway for landlocked Sahelian countries including Burkina Faso, Niger and Mali. Over the past decade, Lomé has expanded its container terminal and modernised infrastructure to compete with other regional ports such as Abidjan and Tema.
At the same time, Turkey has significantly expanded its diplomatic and commercial presence across Africa as part of a broader foreign policy pivot. Ankara has increased trade agreements, opened new embassies and strengthened air and maritime links with African nations. West Africa has become a key focus area, with Turkey seeking diversified export markets and improved access to raw materials and growing consumer bases.
The Port of Mersin, located on Turkey’s Mediterranean coast, is the country’s largest container port and a major trade gateway linking Europe, the Middle East and Central Asia. It plays a central role in Turkey’s export-driven economy, serving as a hub for manufactured goods, textiles, agricultural products and industrial inputs.
Bilateral trade between Togo and Turkey has risen sharply in recent years, more than doubling between 2021 and 2025. Trade flows include Turkish exports of manufactured goods, construction materials and consumer products to Togo, while Togo exports agricultural commodities and other goods. Despite this growth, trade volumes remain modest relative to potential, prompting both governments to explore direct logistics solutions to cut shipping times and costs.
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The proposed Lomé–Mersin logistics corridor reflects a broader trend of South–South cooperation and direct maritime linkages designed to reduce reliance on traditional European transit hubs. It also aligns with Togo’s strategy to deepen value-added activities in logistics and industrial processing, while supporting Turkey’s ambition to strengthen its commercial footprint in West Africa and the Sahel.
