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Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci voiced his country’s willingness to increase the trade volume between Turkey and Qatar to $1.5bn by the end of 2015 from about $770mn at the end of 2013.
Giving a presentation yesterday at the Qatar-Turkish Business Forum, the Turkish minister said that the increase in trade volume, which was only $24mn in 2003, reflected the strong will for co-operation between the two countries, especially in the last decade.
Although the performance during that decade was an important and influential it is not enough, Zeybekci said, expressing his country’s aspiration for greater co-operation to enter into joint ventures or even joint co-operation in a third country.
“Turkish companies are implementing projects worth $13.5bn in Qatar,” the Turkish minister said, pointing out that several of these projects were awarded in the last ten years. Qatari direct investment in Turkey amounted to $740mn, he said, while pointing to his country’s desire to reach an agreement to import Qatari liquefied natural gas (LNG).
Zeybekci highlighted that the two countries enjoy close relations and shared positions with regard to foreign policy and the global economy, adding that this must be translated into greater opportunities for both sides to co-operate in various fields.
Meanwhile, HE the Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani said that accelerated development in the Qatari-Turkish relations is a proof of the sincerity of the intentions, harmony of visions and the existence of many commonalities.
Addressing the opening session of the Qatari-Turkish Business Forum, the Minister said that the visit of the Turkish business delegation to Doha proved both sides’ keenness on implementing the decisions and recommendations developed by the joint committees.
He pointed out that the visit by a number of Turkish businessmen to meet their Qatari counterparts indicated the similarity of both countries’ visions in giving the private sector an opportunity to explore future investment possibilities.
He said that would have a positive impact on increasing the volume of trade exchange between the two countries, as well as exploring new horizons of constructive investments which will contribute to boosting productivity and increasing the gross domestic production (GPD) of both sides, and pushing ahead the rates of economic growth.
In remarks on the sidelines of the forum, HE the Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohamed al-Thani said that the talks he held with his Turkish counterpart Nihat Zeybekci explored investment opportunities between the two countries, adding that the economic growth of both countries is an incentive for the Qatari and Turkish businessmen to increase their co-operation.
He pointed out that the talks also tackled the obstacles that hinder efforts to increase trade volume between Qatar and Turkey, which currently exceeds $700mn.
Separately, president of the Public Works Authority (Ashghal) Engineer Nasser bin Ali al-Mawlawi met Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci yesterday. They discussed ways to strengthen bilateral relations and reviewed opportunities for co-operation between Qatar and Turkey.
