Within the framework of the 2014 activation programme of the Barbaros Turkish Maritime Task Group that commenced on 17 March, certain port visits were realised by the fleet of the Turkish Naval Forces Command under the co-ordination of the Undersecretariat for Defence Industries. Five ports were visited in April and May (Accra, Ghana; Lagos, Nigeria; Luanda, Angola; Darussalam, Tanzania and Mombasa, Kenya) together with officials from defence industry companies.

While bilateral talks were held with top level military authorities, detailed information was also provided to the relevant authorities during these visits on the stage reached by the Turkish defence industry, presentations and information were provided on capabilities and products.  Additionally, during these meetings, detailed information was given to military officials on the ships participating in the visits and, in particular, the capabilities of the MILGEM corvette that was built with indigenous capabilities. It has been indicated that after these presentations, in particular Nigerian and Angolan officials were closely interested in the MILGEM corvette. On the other hand, experts have made known  to Turkish authorities that in these visits national military officials that were closely interested in Turkish products and capabilities stated that they needed smaller size Tuzla class New Type Patrol Boats and rapid intervention boats based on their military needs and because they are more suitable to African ports.