Erdogan may visit Pakistan in March

KARACHI: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is likely to make announcement of huge investment during his visit to Pakistan next month, Turk Consul General in Pakistan Tolga Ucak said on Tuesday.

Turkey had an unbreakable bond with Pakistan, which would only grow stronger with the passage of time, he said.

Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of Turkish Electrical Electronics and Services Exporters’ Association of (TET) sartorial B2B meetings between Turkish and Pakistani businessmen, the consul general said, Turkey favoured balanced trade with Pakistan.

“Turkey would extend all cooperation in the defence sector, as well as play its due role in the promotion of technology and trade with its brotherly state of Pakistan,” the Turkish CG said.

The Turkish government was very much interested in projects under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), he said, adding that Turkish authorities were already in talks with Pakistan for participation in these projects.

Ucak said that the total trade turnover of Turkey was $200 billion, and balanced trade between the two countries would largely benefit Pakistan and increase its exports.

The B2B event organised by Ecommerce Gateway would provide Pakistan’s Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) with an opportunity to explore business opportunities with their Turkish counterparts.

“We wish that Pakistan’s SME sector should grow, which is the prime employment generator in an economy.”

Member TET Hakan Ozturk said that they would hold meetings with the business community and trade bodies in Karachi and Lahore during their five-day visit to promote trade and business between the two countries.

Ecommerce Gateway Vice President Umair Nizam said that a 20-member delegation, representing 13 leading Turkish companies, would sign agreements with the Pakistani companies in electrical and electronics sectors. The TET delegation would also hold B2B meetings with the businessmen in Lahore.