Istanbul's exports to Arab countries totaled $ 23 billion in the first nine months of 2019 and increased by 7 percent compared to the same period, Istanbul Chamber of Commerce Assistant President Israfal Corralay said on Wednesday.
He added - during his participation in the opening of the 14th session of the Turkish-Arab Economic Cooperation Forum for building and investment requirements - that a remarkable rise in the proportion of Arab and foreign investments recently within the Turkish market in the presence of many opportunities.
In contrast, Turkish exports to countries of the world - according to data of the Turkish Statistics Authority - 125.7 billion dollars during the first nine months of 2019 (the latest available data) after reaching 122.9 billion last year.
Broad participation
A total of 220 companies and more than 1500 businessmen will participate in the forum, which will last for two days and will be attended by a number of Arab ambassadors and consuls.
| Turkey boosts trade partnership with Arab countries (Reuters) |
`` Turkey provides all necessary facilities to Turkish and Arab investors and strongly supports Turkish and Arab economic partnerships, '' said Sobhi Attar, head of the joint cooperation of the Turkish and Arab countries.He called on Arab businessmen to communicate with the investment centers in the country to take advantage of the free services provided and to secure their rights in Turkey.
In September and December 2018, Turkey implemented amendments to the Investment and Residence Law that granted foreign investors a package of facilities to attract them to the local market.
Orhan Aydin, director general of the Anatolian Black Businessmen Association, gave figures on trade exchanges between Turks and Gulf states in the last 15 years. "Turkish cooperation with the Gulf states today reached 46 billion dollars, but this figure does not reflect the aspirations of the Arab and Turkish sides," he said.
Tributes
He praised the forum Mohammed Al Dwairi, director of the American company Borman Design in Jordan, and said that the conference is well organized and attended by Turkish companies inclusive of all sectors of buildings and construction supplies.
He continued, "The prices of Turkish products for construction compared to the prices of European products are lower but carry high quality, which makes it affordable to the consumer, and what attracted my attention at the exhibition are the many real estate marketing companies in Turkey that encourage you to own property in Turkey in exchange for taking citizenship, and this is not Exists in other countries. "
Last December, Turkey provided foreigners with the facilities to acquire real estate in exchange for their citizenship by purchasing a house under construction with a starting value of $ 250,000.