BY MUSTAFA UNAL
ZAMAN- Caesar once said ‘All roads lead to Rome.’ Nowadays, many Turks are being led to Rome. Industry and Trade Minister Ali Coskun was also in Rome this week together with a swarm of Turkish businessmen and nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) specializing in economics.
Forestry and Environment Minister Osman Pepe was also in Rome to attend a UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) meeting on Monday. Land Forces Commander Gen. Yasar Buyukanit and Navy Commander Adm. Yener Karahanoglu were also in Italy.
Disagreements between Turkey and Italy are almost nonexistent. The friendship between the prime ministers of the two countries is reflected in their political and economic relations.
Over the last five years, Italy has been the leading country in investments in Turkey. Moreover, Italy is the leading promoter of Turkey’s European Union membership.
Our Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) has an important role in the organization. Thanks to its strong economic ties with Italy, businessmen and officers from Gaziantep are special visitors. Italy is the main trade partner of Gaziantep and has a key role in the economic development of the city.
I was also part of Coskun’s delegation. Our first stop was Rome, where Coskun met Italian Production Minister Antonio Marzano. The meeting focused on taking concrete steps towards removing commercial obstacles between Italy and Turkey.
Italy has important businessmen investing in Turkey. But Turkey also aims to attract small- and medium-sized enterprises. (SMEs)
The Turkish delegation then moved on to Milan, where Turkish-Italian economic relations were discussed in a forum. Nejat Kocer from the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities (TOBB) expressed his dissatisfaction at the two sides’ inability to seize opportunities. Coskun emphasized that Turkish industry is in harmony with European industry and called on Italian businessmen to make investments in Turkey.