ANKARA - Foreign Trade Undersecretary Tuncer Kayalar said on Friday that they continued launching efforts to restart the system which foresaw sending Turkish exports to Iraq in return for oil.
The Iraqi businessmen delegation who came to Turkey as the guest of Foreign Trade Undersecretariat to improve commercial relations between the two countries, started their contacts in Ankara and visited Foreign Trade Undersecretary Kayalar the same day.
Speaking in the meeting, Kayalar stated that he was happy to see the Iraqi businessmen in Turkey, adding that Turkey attributed special importance to making trade with Iraq.
Stressing that important progress was recorded in commercial and economic relations with Iraq, Kayalar said that the trade volume with Iraq which was 251 million dollars in 1996 increased to 834 million dollars in 2001, and to 1.3 billion dollars in 2002.
Kayalar stated that another important advantage in addition to the increase in trade volume was cooperation projects signed by more than one thousand Turkish companies with private sector and state institutions in Iraq prior to the war in Iraq.
''Our exports to Iraq reached 292 million dollars despite the extraordinary conditions as of the first seven months of the year 2003. Our exports in the last three months increased by 200 folds when compared to the same period last year. We are also pleased due to the successful results we obtained from the approval of our contracts which are within the scope of the oil in return of food. The amount of exports planned to be sent to Iraq by the contracts signed before the war in Iraq and which were approved by the U.N. reached 533 million dollars. We guess that this amount will reach 800 million dollars until the end of this year,'' he said.
Kayalar said Turkish companies exerted efforts to improve their position in Iraq, stating that he believed that relations between the two countries would improve rapidly in the coming period. Kayalar said currently more than 10 companies signed contracts with Iraq for gasoline, diesel oil, and LPG in return for fuel-oil.
Kayalar said they continued efforts to resume the implementation of the system which envisaged exports of Turkish goods in return for oil, stating that they planned Turkish Exporters Assembly to open offices in important trade and business centers of Iraq soon, and help marketing activities.
Kayalar said they tried to overcome infrastructure deficiencies in transportation to improve trade, noting that to this end Syrian railway and highway route should be used effectively.
Pointing out that Turkish Airlines intensified efforts to start regular flights to Iraq, Kayalar said he hoped to get positive results in this respect.
Kayalar said Turkey became one of the important production centers of the world in automotive, telecommunication, textile, electronics, ship construction, construction equipment, stating that all needs of Iraq could be met in this respect.
Undersecretary Kayalar said re-building of Iraq could take place in case it works in favor of the economies of both countries and with sincere and permanent steps that would be taken by private sector institutions.
Thamir Al-Shikhly, the Chairman of the delegation and Iraq Businessmen Association, in his part said as the representatives of Iraq business world they wanted Turkish businessmen to support them.
Shikhly said they visited Turkey to set up bridge between the Turkish business world and Iraq business world and called on Turkish businessmen to visit Baghdad.
WE ARE READY FOR COOPERATION IN RECONSTRUCTION OF IRAQ
Zafer Caglayan, the Chairman of Ankara Industry Chamber (ASO) said on Friday that they were ready for making cooperation in reconstruction of Iraq.
The Iraqi businessmen, who came to Turkey as the guest of Foreign Trade Undersecretariat, visited Ankara Industry Chamber (ASO).
Speaking during the meeting, Caglayan said that Iraq had both economic and also human loss. Caglayan said that trade was very important in respect of installing peace among countries, adding that they wanted installation of peace and stability in Iraq and Iraqi people's reaching the living standards which they deserved. Caglayan noted that the importance of economic and commercial relations in reaching these targets was seen once again.
Noting that all Turkish industrialists and businessmen would contribute to the reconstruction of Iraq, Caglayan said that ''we are ready for all kinds of cooperation for reconstruction of Iraq. We want to share our experience with our Iraqi brothers.''
Caglayan said that Iraq would be a neighbor of the EU when Turkey which recorded important progress in EU membership process, would join the EU, adding that certain problems had to be sorted out to improve the trade between Turkey and Iraq.
''Installation of security in Iraq which seems as an obstacle today is our expectation,'' said Caglayan, adding that the operation of banking sector in Iraq and opening of a second border gate would be useful in commercial aspect.
Caglayan said that ASO was ready to make cooperation in sorting out problems and in ensuring commercial and economic integration between Iraq and Turkey.
Thamir Al-Shikhly, the Chairman of the delegation and Iraqi Businessmen Association, pointed out that economic and commercial development in the region would help installation of stability and security.
Stating that a new period has started for them, Shikhly said private sector would be the interlocutor of private sector from now on, and noted that he believed important things would be done in case the sides work together.
Evaluating his visit to Foreign Trade Undersecretary Tuncer Kayalar, Shikhly said visa facilities, reduction in transportation fees, decrease in bureaucratic proceedings, and cooperation in banking were discussed, and that he was optimistic for the outcomes of the meeting.
Shikhly said there were some problems in entrance of trucks and transportation vehicles, bearing Iraq plate, to Turkey, and called for the solution of such problems.
Shikhly said they wanted Iraq's products to be promoted in Turkey and the Turkish products to be promoted in Iraq, and noted that Iraqi Businessmen Council would provide necessary facilities in this respect.
Shikhly said establishment of Turkish-Iraqi joint production companies would be good, pointing out that they wanted facilitation from the Turkish side in coming of raw materials, processed products, and industry additive materials.
Shikhly expressed belief that a Chamber of Trade and Industry would be set up as a result of their efforts.
FOREIGN MINISTER GUL RECEIVES IRAQI BUSINESSMEN
Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said on Friday that Turkey was considering what it could do for Iraq to reach tranquility.
Gul received Iraqi businessmen.
Stating that there were many common points between the two countries, Gul pointed to kinship between people of Turkey and Iraq.
Gul said that Iraq which had rich sources faced with war and stated, ''I hope that it will not last long and everything will become normal.''
Stating that he hoped that a government which would be elected by the will of Iraqi people would come to power and Iraqi people could use their own sources for their interests, Gul said that Turkey, as a neighbor country, wanted to do what it had to do.
''We are considering what Turkey can do for Iraq to reach tranquility. We will take a decision on every possibility by consulting with you,'' Gul added.
(EÖ-AÖ) 22.08.2003