Turkish Prime Minister H E Binali Yildirim (centre); Qatar’s Minister of Economy and Commerce, H E Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani (fourth left); Qatar's Ambassador to Turkey, Salem bin Mubarak Al Shafi (third left) and other senior official
Turkish Prime Minister H E Binali Yildirim yesterday met the Minister of Economy and Commerce H E Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim bin Mohammed Al Thani, during his visit to Turkey.
According to a statement issued by the Ministry of Economy and Commerce, both sides discussed, during the meeting, means of developing economic and trade relations between the two countries, and reviewed trade opportunities for Qatari and Turkish companies, as well as means of enhancing joint cooperation and increasing trade exchange and investment flows between the two countries.
The Minister thanked the Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the Turkish government and the Turkish people for their support to Qatar since the beginning of the current crisis. The volume of trade exchange between Qatar and Turkey reached QR9bn for the years 2015 and 2016.
The Minister of Economy and Commerce also held a meeting with Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Simsek and Minister of Economy Nihat Zeybekci on Wednesday and provided an incite about the economic fundamentals of the Qatari economy. He also met with representatives of Turkish companies from various sectors. During the meeting Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim affirmed that the Qatari economy is strong, solid, diversified, and enjoys attractive investment climate.
The Minister of Economy and Commerce said that there are great opportunities for all commercial companies in both Turkey and Qatar to increase the volume of trade exchange and flow of investments between the two countries in all sectors, not only in the food and consumer sectors.
Sheikh Ahmed bin Jassim extended Qatar's gratitude for Turkey's supportive stance since the beginning of the ongoing crisis and the response of Turkish companies to providing high quality food and consumer products to the Qatari consumer.
He highlighted the Qatari economy's ability to deal with and overcome all the difficulties and crises because of its strength and durability and because the siege failed to affect the movement of trade exchange, pointing that the Qatari economy has been able to overcome several global and regional crises.
The meetings also discussed the arrangements for organising the Qatari-Turkish Economic Forum and exhibition, which will be held from July 26-27 in the Turkish city of Izmir with a rich participation of Qatari and Turkish businessmen. The Forum is a valuable opportunity for businessmen from both countries to promote trade exchange and discuss new investment opportunities between them.
His Turkish counterpart affirmed that his country would continue to meet the day-to-day as well as the long-term needs of Qatar, pointing out that the two countries will discuss the map of economic and trade relations between them by the end of this year.
He expressed hope for ending the Gulf crisis, stressing that his country backs Qatar without hesitation.
