Capping 2020 with a 1.8% economic growth, Turkey’s “rapid recovery” from the impact of Covid-19 will play a key role in further strengthening trade ties with Qatar, an industry expert has said.

According to Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM) chairman Ismail Gulle, the organisation could also play a role in addressing pandemic-related challenges that could affect the movement of Turkish exports in international markets, such as Qatar.

“During the pandemic, the global economy faced an unprecedented test…once again, Turkey showed that its economic structure is very robust, and we expect this strength to reflect positively on Turkey-Qatar relations,” Gulle told Gulf Times.

Gulle stressed that the pandemic helped increase regionalisation “in all geographies,” citing the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) agreement and the Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement as “the most prominent agreements in this sense.”

“Supply security has been the main agenda item during the pandemic. Turkish exporters have demonstrated that reliable supplier qualifications were not in vain in this period.

“I think that the importance of trade to be made by Turkey in the near geography increased for both our country and our neighbours. I believe that serious opportunities will arise in our trade with nearby countries, including Qatar, in the upcoming period,” Gulle explained.

He said TIM, which is the only umbrella organisation of Turkish exports, representing more than 95,000 exporters with 27 sectors, and 61 exporters associations, aims to develop the economy by increasing Turkey’s exports.

“We believe that the products of each company in every sector serves this purpose. Turkish exporters are, in a sense, the representatives of our country abroad. Knowing this qualification, we consider it our duty to further develop our country's relations with Qatar, which has deep and multi-dimensional relations in the commercial and economic fields,” he said.

Gulle also lauded the restoration of Qatar’s diplomatic and economic ties with its Arab neighbours, saying the end of the June 2017 blockade is a “welcome development.”

“The fact that such a development took place at a time when regionalisation gained importance, and countries had no energy left to devote to political tensions is a welcome development for the peace and stability of the region.

“As Turkish exporters, we believe that we can serve regional and global peace by establishing and developing commercial relations, in the light of our founding leader Mustafa Kemal Ataturk's 'peace at home, peace in the world' principle.”

He added: “Qatar and Turkey’s relationship proves that both countries are true friends. The removal of the pressures on friendly country Qatar is of course a pleasing development. Relations that develop in difficult times will continue to strengthen by increasing their momentum in a period when regional tensions are decreasing.”