Turkey, Iran Can Work Together in Industry, Tourism Sectors

Izmir, Turkey | June 12, 2009 by D-8 Secretariat

The trade volume between Turkey and Iran is currently at around $11 billion and increasing.

Iranian Ambassador to Turkey Bahman Hosseinpour said on Tuesday that Iran and Turkey, as two neighbors, can cooperate in industry and tourism.

Paying a visit to the Aegean Region Chamber of Industry (EBSO) in İzmir, Hosseinpour delivered a speech on economic relations between Turkey and Iran. “The trade volume between Turkey and Iran is currently at around $11 billion. Our commercial ties with Turkey have improved immensely in the past few months,” he said.

“Unfortunately, our two countries still lack enough cooperation in the industrial field. We place heavy emphasis on healthy relations with Turkey, and Turkey’s security and happiness leads to our happiness,” the ambassador said, noting that developing relations between Turkey and Iran would be the source of peace in the region. “Turkey and Iran can play an important role to this end based on their geography and history. At a time of global economic crisis, the two countries can facilitate great opportunities,” he said.

Noting that Iran would welcome Turkish entrepreneurs in its market, he called on businessmen to hurry and invest in Iran. “Iran imports via the Persian Gulf. I believe a portion of Iran’s imports can come via Turkey,” Hosseinpour said, adding: “Our relations are based on a ‘win-win’ understanding. There is no loser. I think whatever we need in Iran, we can buy from Turkey.”

EBSO Vice President İbrahim Gökçüoğlu said Turkey and Iran are the strongest economic powers in the region. “Iran needs Turkey to open up to the West, while Turkey needs Iran to open up to the East,” he said. “Looking at the economic potential of the two countries, their geographical proximity and neighborly relations, the trade volume between Turkey and Iran must be higher. Turkish companies plan to establish ties with their Iranian counterparts in the automotive, textile, leather, paper, glass, agriculture and chemical sectors,” Gökçuoğlu said.

D-8 will hold the 1st Ministerial Meeting on Industry in Tehran, Iran, in end of June or early July 2009. The meeting shall focus on strengthening the WGIC function, besides to discuss various strategic issues that need to be viewed in the ministerial level, such as how to PTA can support the industrial cooperation. PTA agreement that has been signed can be considered for extension, definitely through the re-opening of meetings in trade sectors.

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