Ozgur: There Is No Threat Against Turkish Businessmen In Kyrgyzstan

ISTANBUL - Turkish-Kyrgyz Business Council Chairman Cem Ozgur said, ''there is no threat against the lives of Turkish businessmen in Kyrgyzstan at the moment. Several Turkish firms were looted, but there are no casualties.''
Ozgur told A.A on Friday, ''there are 450 Turkish firms in Kyrgyzstan, most of them being small and medium-scale enterprises. Turkish investors are active nearly in all sectors.''
''Investments of Turkish firms in Kyrgyzstan have reached 650 million USD since 1991. Turkish contractors have completed projects worth of 350 million USD so far. Turks are the 4th biggest investors group in Kyrgyzstan after the United States, Britain and Canada,'' added Ozgur.
''Commercial relations between Turkey and Kyrgyzstan are perfect. Foreign trade volume between two countries has reached 80 million USD last year,'' noted Ozgur.
Ozgur said, ''Turkish firms are not related to Kyrgyz government and/or political groups, and they work independently. Thus, there will be no problem in their business in Kyrgyzstan.''
According to the report of Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK), trade volume between Turkey and Kyrgyzstan which was 3.2 million USD in 1992 reached 85.8 million USD in 2004. As of 2004, 13 Turkish contractor firms have completed 19 projects worth of 330.6 million USD in Kyrgyzstan.