07.06.2018 Ankara
Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) signed a cooperation agreement with the Cuban Chamber of Commerce.
TOBB Board Member Faik
Yavuz, who signed the agreement on behalf of TOBB at the signing ceremony
attended by Cuba Foreign Trade and Investment Minister Ileana Nuñez Mordoche,
said: “We will establish a sustainable mechanism to bring together businessmen
in our countries and remove obstacles to bilateral trade. Through this
Cooperation Agreement, we will work to inform our entrepreneurs, businessmen,
and to expose the potential of our countries. I hope that our cooperation will
be a milestone for the bridge between the Turkish business community and Cuban
businessmen.”
At the meeting, Faik
Yavuz informed attendees about the activities and structure of TOBB, “We have
1.5 million members. Throughout Turkey, 365 chambers and exchanges are members.
Along with TOBB University of Economics and Technology, we have established the
only think tank in Turkey, TEPAV. We are involved in a wide international
network.”
- Cuban Deputy Minister of Foreign Trade and
Investment Mordoche
Cuban Foreign Trade
and Investment Minister Ileana Nuñez Mordoche drew attention to the lack of
trade volume between the two countries. Mordoch stated that Cuba buy products
from Turkey and other countries, but none directly from Turkey. Pointing out
that 80% of the products they buy come out through Italian and French companies,
the guest Deputy Minister said, “Our goal is to provide direct contact between
Cuban and Turkish businessmen. At the same time, we want Turkish businessmen to
invest directly in Cuba. We also want to see Turkish companies in Mariel
Special Development Zone. There are nearly 300 foreign investors in this
region. But none of them are Turkish firms. In the near future we want Turkish
companies to work with us in Cuba. We believe that the agreement we signed will
open the way for trade and provide a new path forward.”