LOCAL BUSINESSMEN VISIT YEREVAN TO DEVELOP NEW TRADE RELATIONS
Hurriyet Daily News
Nov 21 2011
Turkey
A delegation of Turkish businessmen will convene in Armenia today for
a series of closed-door discussions regarding trade relations. The
conference will last until Nov. 25.
Although business between Armenia and Turkey has always existed,
business ethics have become the only aspect regulating the relationship
in the absence of more concrete trade laws between two countries,
businessman Arthur Ghazaryan recently told the Hurriyet Daily News.
Ghazaryan, president of Armenia's Manufacturers and Businessmen Union
(UMBEA), said both countries would "doubtlessly" benefit from the
opening of borders as that would significantly increase trade between
Armenia and Turkey. This would subsequently contribute to the economic
growth of eastern Turkey, Ghazaryan added.
Although the borders between the countries may be closed physically,
they have remained open psychologically, Ghazaryan said, adding that
the Turkish government was now looking for an economic response to
the problems in eastern Turkey rather than a military one.
The conference is being organized with the support of UMBEA,
the Eurasia Partnership Foundation, the Yerevan Press Club, the
International Council for Human Development and the Armenian Business
Development Council (TABDC).
The Diyarbakır Chamber of Commerce has sent official letters to all
neighboring countries, including Armenia, to expand trade volume with
these economies, according to Galip Esnarioglu. A former deputy of the
ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the current chairman
of Diyarbakır's Trade and Industry Chamber, Ensarioglu will also
participate in the conference.
Ensarioglu said trade relations had developed at a "sluggish" rate
for political reasons.
Countries typically conduct about 60 percent of their trade with their
neighbors but this figure was "unfortunately" only 30 percent for
Turkey, he said, adding that such trade relations were a reflection
of bilateral relations.
Meanwhile, Gaffur Turkay, a Diyarbakır-based businessman active in
the transportation and insurance sectors, said he would seek business
opportunities while in Yerevan. Businessmen willing to trade with
Armenia face many difficulties due to closed borders, and many Turkish
firms active in Armenia operate with hidden identities, he added.
According to Turkish statistics, the trade volume between Turkey and
Armenia is currently zero, although Armenian sources put the volume
in excess of $200 million.
Hurriyet Daily News
Nov 21 2011
Turkey
A delegation of Turkish businessmen will convene in Armenia today for
a series of closed-door discussions regarding trade relations. The
conference will last until Nov. 25.
Although business between Armenia and Turkey has always existed,
business ethics have become the only aspect regulating the relationship
in the absence of more concrete trade laws between two countries,
businessman Arthur Ghazaryan recently told the Hurriyet Daily News.
Ghazaryan, president of Armenia's Manufacturers and Businessmen Union
(UMBEA), said both countries would "doubtlessly" benefit from the
opening of borders as that would significantly increase trade between
Armenia and Turkey. This would subsequently contribute to the economic
growth of eastern Turkey, Ghazaryan added.
Although the borders between the countries may be closed physically,
they have remained open psychologically, Ghazaryan said, adding that
the Turkish government was now looking for an economic response to
the problems in eastern Turkey rather than a military one.
The conference is being organized with the support of UMBEA,
the Eurasia Partnership Foundation, the Yerevan Press Club, the
International Council for Human Development and the Armenian Business
Development Council (TABDC).
The Diyarbakır Chamber of Commerce has sent official letters to all
neighboring countries, including Armenia, to expand trade volume with
these economies, according to Galip Esnarioglu. A former deputy of the
ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the current chairman
of Diyarbakır's Trade and Industry Chamber, Ensarioglu will also
participate in the conference.
Ensarioglu said trade relations had developed at a "sluggish" rate
for political reasons.
Countries typically conduct about 60 percent of their trade with their
neighbors but this figure was "unfortunately" only 30 percent for
Turkey, he said, adding that such trade relations were a reflection
of bilateral relations.
Meanwhile, Gaffur Turkay, a Diyarbakır-based businessman active in
the transportation and insurance sectors, said he would seek business
opportunities while in Yerevan. Businessmen willing to trade with
Armenia face many difficulties due to closed borders, and many Turkish
firms active in Armenia operate with hidden identities, he added.
According to Turkish statistics, the trade volume between Turkey and
Armenia is currently zero, although Armenian sources put the volume
in excess of $200 million.