Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Economy Minister Zafer Çağlayan, Egypt Transportation Minister Prof. Dr. Galal Mustafa Said, Egypt Chambers Union Federation President Ahmed Al-Wakel, DEİK Turkey-Egypt Business Council President Zuhal Mansfield and businessmen from both countries met at the business dinner hosted by the TOBB and DEİK President, M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu.

TOBB and DEİK President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu assessed the commercial affairs between the two countries. Hisarcıklıoğlu, stating that the Turkey-Egypt Ro-Ro and Land Transportation Memorandum of Understanding is a very important step in developing relations between two countries and said, “The world is in a state of major change. The political instability and regime changes in the Middle East have shaken the region to the core. What we need to do is not miss this change and adapt to the process. In this regard, we must strengthen economic relations with friendly countries and remove obstacles to commerce.”

- “People prosper by trade”

Stating that the Ro-Ro route between the two countries will connect Mersin and Alexandria, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “If it is the prosperity of the people that we seek, the way to that is through commerce. Petroleum and natural gas only benefit governments. Bilateral trade must increase so that the people prosper. With the establishment of the Ro-Ro route our countries will become neighbors. Developed countries conduct more than half of their trade with their neighbors. They create zones of prosperity with their neighbors. If both sides wish to become richer, then they are forced to increase their trade. Just like the USA, Europe and China has done. All of their primary trade partners are their neighbors.”

- “The issues will be resolved by political will”

Emphasizing that the goal is to strengthen relations with the brother country Egypt, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that there will, almost certainly, be problems after the start of the Ro-Ro runs, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that these will be resolved by the political will of both countries.

- “FTA is an important step”

Stating that the Free Trade Agreement is an important step in increasing bilateral trade, however underused, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “As of 2011, trade between us is over 4 billion Dollars’. These figures do not suitably reflect the trade potential between the two countries. Egypt is the gateway to the Middle East and Africa. Egypt is important for us. Therefore, the developments there are of interest to us. Turkish construction firms have taken on 25 projects adding up to a total worth of 600 million Dollars to date. We could cooperate with Egypt in Africa and the Middle East. We have extensive experience, especially in the construction sector and industrialism.  We can take advantage of these together. We must develop the trade in 57 Islamic countries.”

- Economy Minister Zafer Çağlayan

In his speech, Economy Minister Zafer Çağlayan emphasized that Turkey is a country which is growing by the hand of the private sector, “The first and foremost reason for Turkey’s exemplary economic success is political stability and trust.”

- “We are ready to lift visas”

Minister Çağlayan stated that there is no obstacle to raising the trade between the two countries to 10 billion Dollars and that both countries have the potential.

Zafe Çağlayan drew attention to the visa problem between the two countries and stated that Turkey is ready to lift visas.

-Egypt Minister of Transportation Said

Egypt Minister of Transportation Prof. Dr. Galal Mustafa Said stated his gratification for the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between the two countries and that they put great importance on this matter as the Egyptian government. The minister stated that the Ro-Ro route will increase trade between the two countries.

- Egypt Federation of Chambers Union President Ahmed Al-Wakel

Egypt Federation of Chambers Union President Ahmed Al-Wakel stated that the businessmen of the two countries can cooperate for joint ventures. Al-Wakel said that he believed visas will be lifted from both countries soon. Stating that the target trade volume between the two countries is 10 billion Dollars, Al-Wakel said , “Our goal is to render our cooperation perpetual.”
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