Economic Relations With Russia

GAZIANTEP - Turkish-Russian Businessmen's Association (TRBA) Chairman Ali Ihsan Ahiskalioglu said on Thursday that they were ready to share their information and experiences about the Russian market.
Speaking at a panel discussion on ''Current Economic Situation of Russian Federation, Foreign Trade and Banking System'' held in southeastern province of Gaziantep, Ahiskalioglu said that they were pleased with State Minister Kursad Tuzmen's initiatives that aimed to increase exports to neighboring countries.
Noting that Turkey should improve also commercial relations in addition to political relations with its neighboring countries, Ahiskalioglu said, ''we have to increase our foreign trade. We should not expect the state to do everything for us in this field. As businessmen, we should create a new dynamism through cooperation with the state.''
Ahiskalioglu said that national income per person in Russian Federation was three thousand U.S. dollars, and it would rise to ten thousand U.S. dollars in near future.
Noting that in parallel to this development, trade volume between Turkey and Russian Federation would also increase, Ahiskalioglu added, ''we are ready to share our information and experiences about the Russian market for development of foreign trade in favor of Turkey.''
Meanwhile, Southeastern Anatolia Textiles and Raw Material Exporters' Association Chairman Ali Kucukkinaci said that Turkish businessmen's having comprehensive information about Russian market was very important.
''Russia is a market which is very close to us. As a result of this, we have advantages in exportation to this country. Thus, we have to know about this market and expectations of consumers,'' he said.
Kucukkinaci noted that Turkey's imports from Russia was four billion U.S. dollars while exports from Russia to Turkey was one billion U.S. dollars, adding that they should expend efforts to balance the trade volume.
(MS-AÖ) 26.06.2003