DEPARTMENT OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS 
P R E S S  R E L E A S E

www.dfa.gov.ph                                                       2330Roxas Blvd., Pasay City, Philippines                                          Tel. No. 834-4000
 
SFA-AGR-829-07                                                                                                                                     8 Nov 2007

BUSINESS UPBEAT BETWEEN RP AND TURKEY

8 November 2007 – The Philippine Embassy in Ankara reported to the Department of Foreign Affairs that Philippine Ambassador Bahnarim Guinomla urged Filipino and Turkish businessmen to forge stronger and sustained partnership.

The Ambassador suggested a regular exchange of visits between the Philippines and Turkey to help ensure a more robust growth in their bilateral trade, during a breakfast-meeting of visiting Filipino businessmen and their counterparts. He envisioned that the Text Box: Members of a Philippine business delegation with some Turkish businessmen and Ambassador Guinomla during a business meeting held in Istanbul on Oct. 30.two-way trade would reach USD 200 million in 2007 from USD 171 million in 2006.

Moreover, he stated that it is impetrative that the Philippines-Turkey Joint Business Council be formally organized through the signing of the agreement. Mr. Guinomla also invited Turkish businessmen to include the Philippines in their future travels to pave the way for enhancing the business climate. The Embassy is lining up various projects to commemorate the 60th Anniversary of RP-Turkey diplomatic relations in 2009.

On the other side, Mr. Mehmet Guney, President of Helezon, an association of businessmen which hosted the meeting, cited the important role that civil and business groups play in forging closer friendship between peoples especially in the field of trade.

Following the business meetings, Mr. Tezer Palacioglu, Director of the Department of Economic and Social Researches at the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce, gave a briefing to the visiting Filipino businessmen led by Ms. Leah Alejandro, Department of Trade and Industry’s Desk Officer for Turkey.

Finally, after the visit to the Istanbul Text Box: Ambassador to Turkey Bahnarim A. Guinomla with Mehmet Guney (1), president of Hclczon, an association of Turkish businessmen which hosted a breakfast-meeting with a visiting Filipino business group at Istanbul. Arab. Guinomla and Mr. Guney discussed ways to further boost trade between the Philippines and Turkey which was valued at USS171 million in 2006. Amb. Guinomla expressed hope that this will increase to a record US$200 million at the end of 2007.Chamber of Commerce, the group proceeded to Karadag Tekstil plant for a visit. Factory owner Mr. Hasim Karagdag toured his guests around the facility and hosted lunch. END.

 

/Gary

 

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