Speaking at a press conference held in İstanbul ahead of his departure, Gül underlined that India has the second largest population in the world and the third largest economy in regard to its gross national income.
“Although it is the third largest economy in the world, it is also classified as a developing country. It has made the most progress in terms of information technology and computer software, but despite all these facts, when taking into account the size of its population, it is still also a developing country. The reason I’m pointing this out is the fact that infrastructure investments worth $600 billion will be made in India in the medium term. It is a country which still lacks infrastructure to a very large extent, which is why it is very important that we are now going to a country like this with a sizeable business delegation,” Gül said.
In addition to his spouse, Hayrünnisa Gül, the president is being accompanied by a 180-member delegation including State Minister Mehmet Aydın, Health Minister Recap Akdağ, Transportation Minister Binali Yıldırım, parliamentarians, mayors and businesspeople.
“Turkey’s companies and its businesspeople will be able to get involved in joint businesses in India. They will be able to make investments and they will also be able to make businesses together [with Indian businesspeople] in other places,” Gül said, underlining the importance Turkey attaches to the potential of bilateral economic cooperation with India.
While in India, Gül will hold talks with Indian President Pratibha Devisingh Patil; Vice President Hamid Ansari; Prime Minister Manmohan Singh; Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna; Sonia Gandhi, congress president and chairperson of the ruling United Progressive Alliance; and Sushma Swaraj, opposition leader in the Lok Sabha (lower house of the Indian parliament).
When reminded of the fact that famous filmmaker and director Sinan Çetin was also among the delegation accompanying him and asked whether the cinema sectors in Turkey and India could get involved in joint ventures, Gül said that Çetin was an invitee of the Foreign Economic Relations Board, but did not exclude the possibilities of bilateral cooperation in this field.
After wrapping up his talks in India on Friday, Gül will proceed to Dhaka, Bangladesh, for a two-day official visit. In addition to his counterpart, Zillur Rahman, Gül will also hold talks with Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Foreign Minister Dipu Moni, Finance Minister Abul Maal Abdul Muhith and opposition leader Khaleda Zia.
While in Dhaka, Gül will participate in a meeting of the Turkey-Bangladesh Business Forum and will attend a ceremony at the Dhaka University where he will be granted an honorary doctorate.
In Dhaka, the vice chancellor of Dhaka University, Arefin Siddique told the press that President Rahman, who is also the university’s chancellor, will present the doctorate to Gül. Siddique noted that the decision to honor Gül with this degree was taken for his contribution to the fields of education, research and politics in Turkey.
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