Turkish, Portuguese entrepreneurs discuss cooperation

Yavuz, the deputy chairman of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), stressed that Turkey and Portugal can work not as rivals but as complementary countries over a large area. Horta, the chairman of the Portuguese Business Development Agency (AICEP), on the other hand, drew attention to the fact that Portugal, and Turkey -- the 15th largest economy in the world -- can turn many business opportunities into reality together. “As there may be mutual economic relations, these may also be in the form of cooperation in different regions,” he explained. “Our exports to and economic relations with Africa are expanding, and Turkey’s good relations with its neighbors and the Central Asian countries present important opportunities. We want to improve the poor economic relations between our countries. The doors are open; let us invest for the best,” Horta added.

Yavuz asserted that the visit of the Portuguese businessmen’s delegation to Ankara was encouraging for new partnerships. He said exchanging views and getting acquainted with each other will bring significant opportunities for both in terms of trade and economic relations. He argued that the present poor relations between Turkey and Portugal, despite the former being the sixth largest economy in Europe and the latter being very successful in liberalization and privatization, are because of a lack of knowledge between the two about the market conditions of the other.