by admin | May 25, 2021 | Business, Investing, Large Enterprise, Muslim World
Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci
By Ali Atar,
Istanbul : Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci on Wednesday urged Saudi business community to invest in Turkey.
Speaking at the Turkey-Saudi Arabia Business and Investment Forum in Istanbul, Zeybekci told Saudi business community to “come, invest in Turkey — the fastest growing country in Europe.
“Let us produce together and sell together to Europe and the world.”
He predicted Turkey would experience “incredible improvements over the next 10 years”.
“No country in the world offers great opportunities as Turkey promises. No country in the world will be able to double its current energy consumption in the next 10 years.
“No country in the world will invest $150 billion alone in the transport sector over the next 10 years. No country in the world will invest more than $100 billion in its health-related transformation over the next decade alone,” he added.
The minister said Turkey and Saudi Arabia would be among fastest growing countries in the next 10 years as he pointed out Turkey’s vision for 2023 ad Saudi’s vision for 2030.
“Both the Turkish and Saudi Arabian economies are undergoing technological and sectoral transformation…”
Ankara to boost cooperation
He said Ankara was enhancing its cooperation with Riyadh in construction, logistics, agriculture and tourism sectors.
“There are great opportunities , especially in the field of petro-chemistry. We are growing so fast that our finances are not enough for us,” according to Turkish minister.
He also asked the Turkish business community to participate in Saudi Vision 2030.
“You must take part in Saudi economy that is aiming to pass through major transformation in the next decade. Take part in vision 2030 of Saudi Arabia because you will win, you can be sure of that.
“During this development in Saudi Arabia you will also grow exponentially, you will develop.”
Prior to the closing session of the forum, Turkish minister held a meeting with Saudi Trade and Investment Minister Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi.
Saudi Arabia’s 2030 vision lays out a blueprint for the kingdom’s long-term goals and expectations, reflecting its strengths and capabilities. Saudi Arabia’s General Investment Authority Head Ayidth Al-Otaibi explained that they are seeking around $30 billion in investment per year to be able to achieve the vision.
As part of Turkey’s vision for 2023, which marks the centenary of the Republic of Turkey, the country has set specific goals and targets that include major improvements in the economy, energy, healthcare and transportation.
—AA
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Business Summit, Events, World
By Selen Temizer and Sena Guler,
Ankara : Leaders of Turkey, Russia and Iran reiterated their support for Syria’s territorial integrity during a summit in the Russian city of Sochi on Wednesday.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin and Iran’s Hassan Rouhani met in the Russian Black Sea resort for the summit and gave messages highlighting the need for a political solution and territorial integrity of Syria.
In a joint statement at the summit, three guarantor countries declared that they would continue to cooperate for the sake of reducing violence in Syria.
In the statement, the three presidents also emphasized on their strong commitment to supporting the independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria.
The guarantor countries also pointed out the need for confidence-building measures in order to speed up the search for political solutions in Syria.
The measures were listed as fast, secure and continuos humanitarian aid; release of detainees and identification of missing persons.
Measures against PKK/PYD
In the joint statement, they also agreed to hold the Syrian National Dialogue Congress, which will be attended by the Assad regime and the opposition.
The opposition groups who attend the congress would be “the ones that respect Syria’s sovereignty, independence, unity, territorial integrity and non-divisible character”.
By this description,Turkey’s resolute position against the terrorist organization, PKK/PYD, has been reflected.
Opposition groups that will be invited to the congress will be decided by the three countries.
Erdogan’s remarks
President Erdogan said: “Exclusion of terrorist elements — that target both Syrian political union and territorial integrity and our country — from the process, will be among Turkey’s priorities.”
Ankara reiterated there is no difference between the PKK, YPG and PYD terrorist organizations.
He also warned that Turkey cannot share a platform with any terrorist organization that poses a threat to its national security.
Erdogan referred to the Geneva talks under the auspices of the UN, and said the National Dialogue Congress would contribute to the Geneva process.
About the conditions for achievement, he said that besides the attitudes of the regime and the opposition, the three guarantor countries would play a critical role in maintaining “respect and understanding of mutual sensitivity”.
Putin’s remarks
The Russian president pointed out that the summit was a means to strengthen the territorial integrity of Syria.
Vladimir Putin said the Astana process prevents the division of Syria and moves the country towards a “new phase of political solution”, with the cooperation of Turkey and Iran.
He also expressed his gratitude to the Turkish and Iranian leaders for welcoming the idea of holding the Syrian National Dialogue Congress regarding the solution of the Syrian crisis.
Putin added the countries had given necessary instructions about the congress’ date and structure.
Rouhani’s remarks
“We are pleased to see that the three countries have agreed on Syria’s territorial integrity, independence and unity, and we are in close cooperation to ensure peace and stability in Syria,” Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said.
Recalling that the meeting in Sochi constitutes an important step for ending the Syria crisis, Rouhani noted that the solution can be achieved through joint political work, referring to the Astana process launched in January.
“There is no reason for any foreign forces to be present in the country without the consent of the legitimate government of Syria,” Rouhani said.
—AA
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Muslim World
Istanbul : The foreign tourist influx to Turkey experienced in 2017 will continue to increase in 2018, and early reservations suggest a growing interest from the European market.
The country is rapidly moving toward its 2023 vision of 50 million tourists and $50 million in tourism income. The decline in the number of European tourists compared to previous years is balanced by the fact that German tourists prefer Turkey in 2017, while tourism representatives that have started their 2018 sales are very hopeful for the next year. In the first nine months of the year, 26 million tourists came to Turkey, and the 2018 figures are expected to be even better, Daily Sabah News reported.
While tourism representatives who think that Turkey will make a big break in tourism in the next three years make essential tourism connections to Turkey with early reservations, Tatilsepeti.com General Manager Koray Küçükyılmaz told the Turkish Star newspaper that the company is receiving requests from Europe for early booking, adding that there appears to be a significant increase in the planning of European tour operators and demand for Turkey.
Küçükyılmaz also said the expected improvement and increase in the European market would hopefully be seen in 2018. “The improvement in the European market and reaching the 2015 figures will be gradually realized. Turkey’s destinations consist of regions known and liked by European customers,” Küçükyılmaz said.
More than one-third of foreigners who came to Antalya in the first ten months of the year were from Russia. In the January-October period, close to 9.5 million foreign tourists arrived at Antalya Airport. The number of passengers from abroad in the first ten months increased by 60 percent compared to the same period last year. In this period, the most significant number of tourists came from Russia with 3.6 million, which constituted 38.66 percent of total foreign visitors. Russia was followed by Germany with 1.6 million and Ukraine with 710,871 people.
—SM/OIC-UNA
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Halal Food, Halal Industries, Muslim World
Ankara : Turkey’s parliament approved on Wednesday a law for establishing the country’s first halal accreditation agency.
Under the law, the Halal Accreditation Institution (HAK) will have the sole authority for certifying and accrediting halal products goods made according to Muslim standards in Turkey. It will also be able to establish offices abroad.
The agency will also accredit Turkish and foreign institutions that grant certificates of halal compliance.
The agency, with a staff of 50, will be under the Economy Ministry, and represent Turkey in the international arena and obtain membership in both regional and international accreditation unions, Anadolu Agency (AA) reported.
Halal accreditation agencies enforce halal standards according to Islam in their countries and territories. They also aim to protect the growing number of halal consumers and facilitate international trade.
Global trade in halal products and services is valued at around $3.9 trillion.
The halal food market in Turkey is now worth $6 billion annually, and this could rise to $15-20 billion within a decade, according to Hasan Ali Cesur, head of the Anatolian Businessmen’s Association (ASKON).
—SM/OIC-UNA
by admin | May 25, 2021 | Business Summit, Events, Muslim World, Social Round-up
Istanbul : The activities of the International Conference on Protecting Cultural Heritage of the Muslim World kicked off Wednesday in the Turkish city of Istanbul.
The two-day event is being held under the sponsorship of the Istanbul-based OIC Research Centre for Islamic History, Art and Culture (IRCICA) and the Rabat-based Islamic Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (ISESCO).
“Cultural heritage is one of the most important human values,” said Turkish Education Minister Ismet Yilmaz in a speech at the opening ceremony of the conference.
“The transfer of this legacy to future generations is an indispensable guide and condition to prove humanity’s progress,” he added, pointing out that Istanbul is one of the most important global cultural centers.
Yilmaz called on the Islamic world to make further efforts to preserve the cultural heritage and protect it from the ongoing wars in a number of countries in the region.
—AB/OIC-UNA
