South African Businessmen In Istanbul

ISTANBUL - South African Executive Deputy President Jacob Zuma and businessmen attended on Wednesday a meeting in Istanbul organized by Turkey-South Africa Business Council.
Delivering a speech in the meeting, Zuma said that they attributed great importance to cooperation with powerful countries like Turkey.
Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) executive board member Nihat Gokyigit said that Turkey-South Africa Business Council was set up in 1997 and stated that but Turkish companies lost their interest in activities of the council due to high customs taxes and non-tariff obstacles in South Africa.
Stating that meetings on free trade agreement did not start between Turkey and South Africa yet, Gokyigit said that they expected Zuma to show special interest in the issue to start meetings in 2004.
After the meeting, representatives of six companies from South Africa and Turkish businessmen held bilateral meetings.
There are 23 Turkish companies in home textile, blanket and electrical household equipment sectors in South Africa. Those companies' total investment amount to nearly 50 million U.S. dollars.
(EÖ-AY) 15.10.2003