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D-8 Hails The Opening Flight Of Turkish Airlines Istanbul-Jakarta

Istanbul, Turkey | September 03, 2009 by D-8 Secretariat

Turkish Airlines opens the direct route from Istanbul-Jakarta, starting on September 3, 2009

Turkish Airlines opens the direct route from Istanbul-Jakarta, starting on September 3, 2009

(PRESS RELEASE): On the September 3rd, 2009, of this Holy Month of Ramadan, the Turkish Airlines re-opens the direct flight route from Istanbul-Jakarta, via Singapore. Developing 8 Countries for Economic Cooperation (D-8), based in Istanbul, Turkey, with the member countries of: Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, Iran, Malaysia, Nigeria, Pakistan and Turkey, with the total population of 930 million people, extend a highest appreciation and applaud this route opening.

D-8 express gratitude and congratulations to THY and the Government of Turkey, especially the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) of Turkey, who together with other DGCAs from D-8 member countries, has initiated cooperation in civil aviation and air transport service sector. The Turkish DGCA currently is the leader, or Prime Mover, of the D-8 Working Group on Civil Aviation.

The cooperation which has been accomplished so far is results of set of meetings held by the D-8 WGCA. The first meeting was held in Antalya, Turkey, in June 2007; followed by the second meeting in Isfahan, Iran, in September 2007. While the third meeting was held in Bali, Indonesia, in June 2008, where we witnessed the participation of D-8 private sectors which resulted in the signing of MoU among them, such as between THY and Garuda Indonesia, MNG Air Cargo (Turkey) and Garuda Indonesia, and TAV (a Turkish company which had built more than 20 airports domestically and internationally) and PT Angkasapura of Indonesia. In addition to that, technical cooperation (task forces) had also been established to support the previously-held meeting results. This cooperation was held in Istanbul, Turkey, in March 2009. The planning and hardwork to re-open this route has been taking place since that cooperation. And today, on September 4th, 2009 people witness how it has moved from dream to reality.

Furthermore, D-8 also hope that this route would bridge up the cooperation between the two countries, Turkey and Indonesia, as well as other D-8 member countries in trade, tourism, hajj & umrah services, and migrant workers within D-8 countries, which recorded around 15 million people in 2008. D-8 hopes to see an increase in the tourist visitation volume from Turkey to Indonesia—a beautiful country with rich cultures and wonderful panoramas, and vice-versa, as well as to other D-8 member countries. This target is feasible with the existing 150 international routes of THY to major cities of the world. Therefore D-8 thanks that THY can be excellent partner for Garuda Indonesia, and other Indonesian aviation companies.

D-8 was established by the initiative of Turkish government on June 15th, 1997. As the organization progressed, now the intra-trade growth has seen significant increase, where in 2006 was US$ 35 billion and increased to US$ 64 billion in 2007; and in 2008, the intra-trade increased again to US$ 78 billion from total trade with the world at US$ 1.2 Trillion. This significant boost was reached under the D-8 leadership term of Indonesia (2006-2008) under the Indonesian President of Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono. In addition to that, within the Indonesian D-8 leadership, 31 activities were held and resulted in diverse D-8 cooperation steps which had increased significantly now; among others in civil aviation and air transport industry, which is now commanded by Turkey as the Prime Mover, with Dr. Ali Ariduru (General Director of Turkish DGCA) as the leader.

Nowadays the intra-trade of D-8 has reached US$ 78 billion; however that value is merely 5-6% from total trade of D-8 Countries with the world, which amounted to US$ 1, 2 trillion. Therefore the D-8 Cooperation, as guided by the Roadmap 2008-2018, has pledged several targets such as the increase of intra-trade to 15%. This is feasible with the good implementation of a number of agreements, such as: D-8 Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA); Simplification Visa Agreement; and Customs Matters Agreement, including 15 working groups in trade cooperation sectors, and civil aviation services.

Once again, D-8 congratulates and thanks the Turkish Government, who had taken active role as Prime Mover in D-8 Civil Aviation, and will hold the 1st Meeting of D-8 Airlines Companies on October 24-29th, 2009, in the beautiful touristic city of Antalya, Turkey. And to be followed by the 4th WGCA meeting and Ministerial Level Meeting on Transportation. These meetings are signs of the involvement of not only government sector as the facilitator, but also private sector that focused on economic practices.

Click here to download Press Release In Turkish

Click here to download Press Release In Indonesian

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