Ashraf AboArafe
Amb. Şen:
* Meetings with commercial and economic content will continue in the coming months. There will be mutual visits between the two countries’ trade ministers.
* Egypt is Turkey’s largest trade partner in Africa
B2B meetings were held in Cairo on December 15 by the Eurasian Strategic Research Platform (ASAD) with the participation of many representatives of Egyptian and Turkish companies.
Turkish Ambassador to Cairo Salih Mutlu Shen made it clear in his speech during the meeting attended by MP Adel Lamei, head of the Egyptian side of the Egyptian-Turkish Business Council, the Association of Independent Industrialists and Businessmen (MUSIAD), and the Egyptian-Turkish Businessmen Association (TUMIAD), in addition to more than 40 Turkish businessmen interested in investing in the fields of cranes, textiles and shipyards speaking at the meeting with the participation of businessmen, that he welcomes the participation of Turkish businessmen from very valuable sectors, who are looking for investment areas, not just trade, saying: “The more movement between the two countries, the greater the blessing.”
Ambassador Salih Mutlu Shen pointed out that this meeting is a meeting that we all support, and expressed his belief in the possibility of holding this second meeting during the coming year.
Referring to the very large attendance at the meeting, Ambassador Shen said: “Everything happens with a little greeting and mutual acquaintance. The rest will definitely happen if it is meant to happen. I sincerely assure that this meeting and conversation will lead to fruitful and productive business relations.
Ambassador Shen stated that Egypt is one of the countries where Turkey makes investments, and that Egypt is our first trade and investment partner in our region and Africa, and the number one country in the entire African continent.
Ambassador Shen said: “When you take all these factors together, such as seat capacity, number of aircraft, number of flights, charter flights, Egypt is at the forefront in every aspect. He added that there is a good ground at the moment. There are political and strategic directives on this basis, and he stressed that the Turkish and Egyptian authorities fully support, encourage and welcome these economic and commercial relations for the benefit of their countries.
Ambassador Shen said that the number of seats on the plane is no longer sufficient due to the intensity of travel between Turkey and Egypt, and added that from now on, when such business meetings, businessmen and companies are held together and facilitated, they will produce tangible results. He pointed out that it is necessary to strengthen cooperation in the fields of trade and finance, whether at the level of investments, tourism or technology.
He added: “There is a will in Egypt and Turkey, and there is institutional capacity in Egypt and Turkey, there is infrastructure in Turkey and in Egypt and there is the technical capacity and necessary expertise in Egypt and Turkey.”
Ambassador Salih Mutlu Shen stated that he believes that with this understanding and this ground, the volume of trade exchange will rise to $15 billion within 5 years, to $20 billion within 10 years, and to $30 billion within 20 years God willing.
The Ambassador continued his speech at the meeting as follows; “As for investments, I believe that we are very close to achieving $5 billion, and after that our investment target of $10 billion will be achieved.” After we secure this, all these results will be obtained, God willing. We hope that other trade and economic meetings will continue in the coming months. There will be mutual visits between our trade ministers and other trade delegations. Because trade and economy are the strongest pillars of our relations. Our cooperation will develop in various fields, to the benefit of the two brotherly countries, and will become stronger, and God willing, we will continue, as two large countries, to walk together on the path of prosperity and development with these common benefits.
