01.08.2023 Ankara
Türkiye-Egypt Round Table Meeting was hosted by the President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB) M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu at TOBB Twin Towers. In addition to Hisarcıklıoğlu; Egyptian Minister of Industry and Trade Ahmed Samir Saleh, President of the Federation of Egyptian Industries Mohamed Zeki es-Suweidi, President of the Alexandria Chamber of Commerce Ahmed el-Wekil attended the meeting.
In his speech at the
opening of the meeting, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “There is a Free
Trade Agreement between Türkiye and Egypt. Egypt is the largest trading partner
of our country in Africa. In 2022, our trade volume reached 10 billion dollars.
We believe that we can increase our mutual trade to 20 billion dollars in a
short time.”
Stating that they are
happy that the diplomatic relations between Türkiye and Egypt have been raised
to the level of ambassadorship, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that even in difficult
times, as representatives of the business world, they always try to keep
politics and economy separate and continue their mutual contacts. Pointing out
that Türkiye is among Egypt's largest export markets, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “At
the same time, Türkiye is among the most important customers buying Egyptian
gas.”
Stating that they want
to take part in infrastructure projects in Egypt, especially in the field of
transportation, especially railways, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We believe that we
have cooperation opportunities with Egyptian companies in third countries,
especially in Africa and the Middle East. We want to expand the scope of our
bilateral relations and deepen them further.”
- Cooperation should increase
Hisarcıklıoğlu said the
Mersin-Alexandria and İskenderun-Dimyat Ro-Ro services in 2012-2015 facilitated
bilateral trade and doing business with third countries.
Stating that the
renewal of the agreement for the continuation of this cooperation will benefit
both Türkiye and Egypt, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We especially appreciate the fact
that the visa issue has been eased for the business world. In the past, we had
problems such as the producer registration system. However, the Egyptian
authorities have always been helpful in finding solutions to the problems.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that finding solutions to the problems experienced, including work and
residence permits, especially for qualified technical personnel, will encourage
Turkish business people for new business opportunities and investments, and
said, “As TOBB, we, as the Turkish Business World, will continue to support and
take responsibility to improve relations.”
- Egyptian Minister of Industry and Trade Ahmed Samir Saleh
In his speech, Egyptian
Minister of Industry and Trade Ahmed Samir Saleh said that the trade volume
between his country and Türkiye has reached 10 billion dollars and that they
aim to increase the trade and cooperation between the two countries.
Thanking Hisarcıklıoğlu
for his invitation, Egyptian Minister of Industry and Trade Saleh said,
“Hisarcıklıoğlu's active role in the past years and his continued communication
and visits have undoubtedly contributed greatly to the support of Türkiye-Egypt
trade relations.”
Saleh said that he
hoped the meeting would contribute to mutual cooperation and increase bilateral
trade volume, adding, “We want to develop cooperation with Türkiye.”
Pointing out that the
Egyptian government is eager to develop trade relations between Türkiye and
Egypt and overcome the difficulties, Saleh said that visa facilitation was
provided to Turkish citizens in this direction, adding that the visa issue
previously posed difficulties for Turkish business people.
Saleh pointed out that
despite the current economic difficulties, the trade volume between the two
countries has reached 10 billion dollars and said that Türkiye and Egypt want
to further increase bilateral trade.
Saleh underlined that
the two countries want to develop economic relations in the fields of medical
and chemical industries, potassium, food, engineering and automotive
industries, stressing that Egypt and Türkiye share a common history and culture
and that developing economic relations would be in the interest of both
peoples.
- Mohamed Al-Sewedy, President of the Federation of
Egyptian Industries
Mohamed Al-Sewedy,
President of the Federation of Egyptian Industries, stated that the Egyptian
government is making efforts to increase foreign investments in the country and
said, “(Egypt's) Prime Minister expresses his readiness to provide some
incentives. Let's take advantage of these opportunities and increase
investments.”
Al-Sewedy pointed out
that Turkish business people continued their investments in Egypt's difficult
times and said, “Because we do not mix politics in the field of industry and
economy. Politics comes and goes, but investment should continue.”
Al Wakeel underlined
that the development of bilateral trade will provide a better life for the
peoples of the two countries and job opportunities for their youth, noting that
if the opportunities that both sides have are utilized, they can have the
chance to penetrate the markets of third countries.
After the speeches, the
meeting continued closed to the press.