2-day forum on boosting Qatari-Turkish trade begins in Istanbul

By Gokhan Ergocun

ISTANBUL (AA) – A two-day forum to discuss new avenues of trade and the expansion of existing business between Qatari and Turkish entrepreneurs began in Istanbul on Tuesday.

At the Qatar Turkey Matchmaking Event, businesspeople from the two countries will discuss and find new ways to collaborate in many sectors such as plastics and chemicals.

The event was organized by a Turkish consultancy firm Grant Thornton.
Aziz Hatipagaoglu from Grant Thornton said the Qatar Development Bank (QDB) requested a study to explain how Qatari enterprises can enter the Turkish market.

"We evaluated Qatari companies' potential in Turkey and shared our findings with the QDB," he noted.

He highlighted that the trade relations of the two countries are rapidly improving.

He added that the event will boost cooperation and create new collaborations in several sectors such as plastic, chemicals, paint, cable, and acrylic.

Hamad Salem Mejegheer, executive director of the QDB's Export Development and Promotion Agency, said the countries are taking a new step at the event and opening new doors for boosting cooperation and contributing to both economies.

He recalled that bilateral trade figures have increased rapidly in recent years, now totaling around $1.9 billion.

"There is a strong potential for increasing economic relations between Turkish and Qatari companies and by 2025, we will see the level of $5 billion," he underlined.