Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Stating that Brunei is a gateway to Asia and the Pacific, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu expressed that Turkey can act as a gateway to the Middle East for Brunei and suggested that emphasis be put on mutual delegation visits.

- Brunei Treasury Minister Pehin Abdul Rahman

The Brunei Treasury Minister stated that the diplomatic relations between the two countries had started in 1984 and expressed that relations would be furthered with the bilateral visits between the two countries recently. Stating that Brunei is one of the counties with the highest per capita income in the world, Rahman said that their economy is fundamentally based on petroleum and natural gas, however, they wish to diversify their economy.

“Bringing diversification to our economy is one of the most difficult problems we’ve faced,” said Pehin Abdul Rahman and invited Turkey to invest in Brunei.

- 40,000 Turkish businessmen active worldwide

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, also the Vice President of the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, said, “We are a part of the decision making mechanism of the ICCIA. We put great great importance on furthering our relations in the Asia-Pacific.”

Stating that there is a need for an institutional mechanism to increase the relations between Brunei and Turkish business worlds, the TOBB President stated that a business council needs to be established with Brunei. “There are 8,800 kilometers between us. If we are able to implement this mechanism, we will be closer than next-door neighbors.” TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu expressed his desire to visit Brunei with a small and effective businessmen group.