Indian P.M.: Turkish And Indian Businessmen Should Meet To Have Competitive Advantages

ISTANBUL - Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee asked on Friday Turkish and Indian businessmen to meet in order to have competitive advantages.
Speaking in the meeting of Turkish-Indian Business Council, Vajpayee said that Istanbul had a strategic position in international trade and had 40 percent share in Turkey's foreign trade.
Vajpayee noted that he held very fruitful meetings with Turkish leaders and both Turkey and India were of the same opinion on acceleration of bilateral relations.
Hoping that close contacts between two countries would help a revived economic partnership, Vajpayee said that they could cooperate in not only trade of goods and services, but also investments in third countries, cooperation in research and development, and in new technologies.
Vajpayee stated that delegations would lay down proposals to Turkish and Indian governments and that he and Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan came to some decisions in their meeting.
There was a serious imbalance in trade between Turkey and India, Vajpayee said. He noted that trade volume of 631 million U.S. dollars in 2002 should be increased.
Vajpayee pointed out that reaching trade volume of 1 billion U.S. dollars till 2005 was their target.
Stressing that cooperation could be made in some main sectors, Vajpayee said that flights between Istanbul and New Delhi which started on Thursday would facilitate initiatives of business world.
Drawing attention that cooperation in banking sector was necessary, Vajpayee said that there was need for cooperation among Eximbanks and finance organizations of two countries.
Vajpayee said that he expected Turkish businessmen to show interest in international trade fair to take place in New Delhi toward end of this year.
Pointing to importance of Turkey's geopolitic position, Vajpayee said that businessmen of two countries should meet to have competitive advantages and thus, they could reach European markets.
Vajpayee noted that two countries could diversify economic cooperation and his country wanted to improve relations with Turkey.
Stating that both countries were willing to have a long-term future vision, Vajpayee said that the governments only encouraged and facilitated that process.
Vajpayee added that the Indian Industrialists' Confederation decided to open an office in Turkey in order to establish strong economic ties.

ENERGY MINISTER CALLS ON INDIAN ENERGY COMPANIES TO ENTER INTO TURKISH MARKET
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler called on Indian energy companies to enter into Turkish market on Friday.
Speaking in the meeting of the Turkish-Indian Business Council, Guler said that the government attached great importance to relations with India and wanted to further improve and diversify relations.
Guler noted that they considered India an important partner and that they wanted to improve cooperation.
Trade volume between two countries climbed from 363 to 600 million U.S. dollars since 1999, Guler said.
Stating that the trade volume was below real potential, Guler said that increase in product range was very important.
Guler pointed out that only 8 Indian companies were working in Turkey, adding, ''I think that we will need more exportation in coming years. I call on Indian energy companies to enter into Turkish market.''
(BRC-AÖ) 19.09.2003