Turkish PM Erdogan
Photo: Reuters
Turkish Minister for foreign trade Zafer Caglayan said Tuesday that his country will open a trade office in Ramallah within weeks as part of its plan to boost commercial ties with the Palestinian Authority.
"We will open an office in Ramallah so we can improve contacts and enable our investors to work better," Caglayan was quoted by the Hurriyet newspaper as telling the Palestine Business Forum in Istanbul. He called on Turkish investors to explore opportunities in the PA.
The minister added that Turkish-Palestinian trade volume amounted to some $30 million, heavily in favor of Turkey. According to reports published earlier this year, Palestinian export to Turkey is estimated at no more than $500,000.
Palestinian representative Abu Abeida Hafez said a number of agreements between Turkish and Palestinian companies will be signed during another business conference set to be held in Istanbul later this month.
During the forum officials will discuss the possibility of allowing Palestinian businessmen to enter Turkey without a visa.
Doron Peskin is head of research at Info-Prod Research (Middle East) Ltd.
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