Syria, Turkey Discuss Economic & Investment Cooperation
Syrian Arab News Agency (SANA)
Syria, Turkey Discuss Economic & Investment Cooperation
24 February 2010
By R. Raslan / I. al-Kazhali / R. Milhem / H. Sabbagh / Ruaa AL-Jazaeri / Mazen
Damascus, (SANA) – Prime Minister Mohammad Naji Otri and Turkish Minister of State for Economic Affairs Zafer Caglayan on Wednesday discussed means and ways of bolstering the standing cooperation between Syria and Turkey.
The talks dealt with enhancing investment and economic cooperation, increasing the volume of trade exchange and strengthening business relations in the interest of the two countries.
Tourkmani Affirms Importance of Implemented Economic and Investment Projects
In a similar meeting, Assistant Vice-President Hassan Tourkmani on Wednesday discussed with Turkish Minister of State for Economic Affairs Zafer Caglayan Syrian-Turkish relations and ways of enhancing them.
Tourkmani affirmed the deep relations between the two countries in all fields, pointing out to the development achieved through activating agreements and documents signed during the session of Strategic Cooperation Council held on 23 of Feb. 2009.
He also pointed out to the importance of the economic and investment projects implemented by the two sides.
For his part, Caglayan highlighted the Turkish government’s desire for boosting the bilateral relations and upgrading them.
Al-Dardari: Exchanging Expertise and Focusing on Developmental Ventures
Later, Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs Abdullah al-Dardari discussed with the Turkish delegation joint bilateral cooperation and means of developing economic, commercial and investment relations between Syria and Turkey.
Al-Dardari pointed out to the necessity of increasing and activating Syrian-Turkish cooperation in different fields and establishing big economic ventures in the fields of energy, industry, agriculture, transport, housing and banking.
He also underlined the necessity of exchanging expertise and focusing on the developmental ventures that support both countries’ economies, calling on the Turkish companies to increase their investment in Syria and benefit from the available investment opportunities.
Minister of Economy: Importance of Exchanging Information and Expertise in the Interest of Both Countries
In a similar meeting, Minister of Economy and Trade Lamia Assi reviewed with Caglayan economic and commercial relations between Syria and Turkey and means of developing them.
Assi stressed the importance of exchanging information and expertise, activating commercial exchange in the interest of both countries and benefiting from the encouraging advantages that the Syrian government provided to enhance the comprehensive development.
For his part, Caglayan pointed out to the development of the Syrian-Turkish economic relations, stressing the Turkish government’s desire to develop relations in all fields, boost the Turkish investment in Syria and raise the commercial exchange between the two countries.
Business Forum: Removing Obstacles Hindering Cooperation and Long Term Partnership
In this context, the Syrian-Turkish Business Forum on Wednesday discussed means of enhancing bilateral economic and trade relations and removing the obstacles hindering cooperation in various domains.
Minister of Economy and Trade Lamia Assi pointed out that the Forum comes in the framework of consolidating joint work between the two countries.
The Minister asserted that the Syrian government encourages establishing Syrian-Turkish economic partnership on the long term between business sectors to reach a regional strategic sphere serving the best interest of both countries.
She pointed out that implementing the free trade agreement with Turkey has played a significant role in increasing the volume of trade exchange and encouraged businessmen to make joint strategic investment projects to push forward the comprehensive and sustainable development in both countries.
For his part, Turkish Minister of State for Economic Affairs Zafer Caglayan called for activating and implementing the signed agreements between the two countries, pointing out that these joint meetings between the two countries’ businessmen would open the door wide for making investments and partnerships serving the interest of both sides.
He underlined the importance of establishing balanced trade relations between the two countries, asserting that the Turkish contactors have a great experience enabling them to carry out real estate and infrastructure projects in Syria in addition to providing all the requirements needed.
For his part, Governor of the Central Bank of Syria Dr. Adib Mayyala pointed out that the Syrian-Turkish common interest necessitates taking more executive steps regarding the signed agreements between the two sides.
"The special Syrian-Turkish relations have become an example to follow by other countries, particularly after establishing the Joint Syrian-Turkish Strategic Cooperation Council and signing 51 agreements and memos of understanding as well as the free trade agreement." said Turkish Ambassador in Damascus Omer Onhon.
The Forum is held in the framework of Mersin Promotion Days in Syria which started on February 22nd. The event aims at promoting Mersin as an important center on the Mediterranean. Bilateral meetings will be held for exchanging information between both countries’ businessmen.
