Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Turkey-Venezuela Business Forum, organized by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) and DEİK, was held with the attendances of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Minister of Economy Nihat Zeybekci, TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and DEİK / Turkey-Venezuela Business Council President Selim Bora.

Expressing that they are very pleased to be hosting President of Venezuela President Maduro in Ankara, “I thank Nihat Zeybekçi, our Minister of Economy, for honoring our meeting. Undoubtedly, this second visit between the two countries at the presidential level is extremely valuable. It is a very valuable beginning for the development of relations between the two countries.”

TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said today that global trade has slowed down, growth has slowed, geopolitical risks have increased.

- “We pay special attention to Latin America”

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they are closely following the recent troubles in Venezuela, that they believe Venezuela it would overcome these troubles with its social dynamism and historical accumulation.

Hisarcıklıoğlu said Turkish companies could meet the urgent needs of Venezuela for agriculture, food, medicine and cleaning materials with the most competitive prices at the best quality.

“We know that millions of hectares of agricultural land are unused in our country. We can win over these lands to the economy by cooperating with these companies and the related public authorities. For example, in Venezuela, the country with the world's best cocoa flavor, Turkish companies of advanced coffee and chocolate production can work together.

In April we took a group of businessmen to Caracas. We must definitely increase these visits.”

- Economy Minister Zeybekci

Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci expressed that the distance between the two countries is quite large but they consider this distance as, “ocean full of opportunities” and pointed out that the signing of the economic and commercial partnership agreement between the two countries was the result of the negotiations.

- President of Venezuela Maduro

President of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro, stated that they’ve had an extremely busy but productive day in Turkey and that they are evaluating business opportunities between the two countries with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Nicolas Maduro reported that 5 agreements have been signed between Turkey and Venezuela in the fields of tourism, trade, agriculture and security.

Reminding that he had visited Turkey during former President Hugo Chavez’s time in office, Maduro said that at the time, they would have liked to increase investments between the two countries but difficulties in establishing a permanent business agreements were unable to be achieved.

Maduro, reporting that, there are business opportunities in fields such as mining, petrochemicals, oil, natural gas, tourism, industry, agriculture in Venezuela, said, “I invite you; let's find the best conditions and let's work together in these areas.”