ISTANBUL - Spanish Industrialists' Confederation's Foreign Promotion Committee Chairman Juan Canals said on Tuesday that Spanish entrepreneurs supported Turkey's future European Union (EU) full membership.
Turkish-Spanish Business Council which functions under auspices of Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) convened in Istanbul.
Cooperation in infrastructural works, possibilities to enter into Turkish and Spanish markets and difficulties faced, and investment opportunities in third countries were taken up in the meeting.
Speaking in the meeting, Canals stressed that Spain attached special importance to Turkey as a technological and industrial partner of Spain.
Canals said that they attributed importance to Turkish industrial companies in Spanish market and those companies caused a competition in the EU.
They foresaw cooperation with Turkish companies in entering into markets of other countries, Canals noted.
Spanish Ambassador to Turkey Manuel de la Camara said that some circles were uneasy about Turkey's economy and thus, Turkey's accession to the EU.
However, Camara noted, when Turkey's economy was taken into consideration, it could be seen that it had the biggest economy among countries which had applied for EU full membership.
Camara said, ''Turkey is economically a very dynamic country. Turkish economy has gained 5 percent momentum when compared with the last year thanks to efforts of the government. And, its economic conditions will become better and better.''
Following the opening remarks, panel discussions on Turkish-Spanish cooperation in infrastructure and business and investment environment in Turkey and Spain were held.
TURKISH-SPANISH BUSINESS COUNCIL CO-CHAIRMAN ERDEM SAYS THEY TARGET AT IMPROVING EXISTING ECONOMIC COOPERATION WITH SPAIN
Turkish-Spanish Business Council Co-Chairman Zeynel Abidin Erdem said on Tuesday that they targeted at improving existing economic cooperation with Spain.
Turkish-Spanish Business Council which functions under auspices of Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) convened in Istanbul.
Speaking in the meeting, Erdem said that economic relations between Turkey and Spain were accelerated after the Spanish government had chosen Turkey as a target country and two countries had formed a joint action plan.
Erdem noted that Turkey did not know well about Spain. Stating that there were 52 Spanish companies working in Turkey last year, Erdem said that the share of those companies in foreign capital flow in Turkey was only 2 percent.
Their target was to further improve existing economic cooperation between Turkey and Spain, Erdem pointed out.
Erdem said that the Foreign Investments Law which entered into force on June 17, 2003 and restructuring works had offered many possibilities to Spanish investors.
The Investment Opportunities Conference foreseen to be held in Madrid on November 4, 2003 aimed at promoting existing investment opportunities in Spain and making use of concrete projects of Turkish-Spanish companies, Erdem stated.
Erdem said that the biggest obstacle before foreign capital flow in Turkey was bureaucracy.
(BRC-AÖ) 16.09.2003