The Diplomatic Relations Commission of the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD) carried out a series of visits to the İstanbul Consulates General of Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Indonesia and Greece under the chairmanship of Commission Chairman Osman Nuri Önügören. In the talks, MÜSİAD EXPO 2022, the Anatolian Economic Diplomacy project and regional commercial relations were addressed.

Chairman of the MÜSİAD Diplomatic Relations Commission Osman Nuri Önügören, MÜSİAD Pakistan Representative Halit Uğurlu and commission members Şerif Ökmen, Fatih Mehmet Büyükkılıç and Can Tülümen came together with Azerbaijan's Consul General in İstanbul Nermine Mustafayeva, Pakistan's Consul General in İstanbul Bilal Khan Pasha, Indonesia's Consul General in İstanbul Imam As’ari and Greece's Consul in İstanbul Danai Vasilaki and Commercial Counsellor Nicholas Emirzas.

"Azerbaijan's doors are always open to Türkiye"

In the meeting held with Azerbaijan's Consul General Nermine Mustafayeva under the coordination of the MÜSİAD Diplomatic Relations Commission, the importance of the cultural, historical and commercial relations of the two countries was emphasized.

At the meeting, where the 25th International Business Forum held in Baku, the capital of Azerbaijan, in November 2021, which brought together hundreds of business people, was also discussed, Consul General Mustafayeva stated that Azerbaijan's doors are always open to Türkiye and to Turkish business people.

Consul General Mustafayeva also expressed that the Association of Azerbaijani Businessmen in Türkiye had recently been established and stated that the cooperation between the two associations could be developed.

At the meeting, where information regarding MÜSİAD EXPO 2022, to be held at the TÜYAP Fair and Congress Centre on 2-5 November, was shared, the opportunities created by renewable energy projects in Azerbaijan were evaluated, while the expansion of the two countries' commercial relations and of the work in this field was addressed.

Pakistani business people aim to strengthen their relations with MÜSİAD

In the meeting held between the MÜSİAD delegation and Pakistan's Consul General Bilal Khan Pasha, in addition to the strengthening of the two countries' commercial relations, assessments regarding the events to be organized in the near future were addressed.

Stating that they want to come together with MÜSİAD business people in the coming months, Consul General Pasha expressed that senior Pakistani business people would come to Türkiye within the scope of the 115th National Management Course (NMC) Foreign Training Tour and that B2B business meetings could be held in cooperation with MÜSİAD within the scope of this visit.

Consul General Pasha also touched on the fact that the Islamabad-Tehran-İstanbul freight train, which has resumed its services within the scope of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO), provides savings in time and cost compared to the maritime transport between Pakistan and Türkiye taking 35 days, while contributing to the development of trade between the two countries and increasing trade among ECO countries as well.

At the meeting between the MÜSİAD delegation and the Consulate General of Pakistan, cooperation in the fields of Gaming-Cloudhing-Blockchain was also addressed, while consultations were held for a joint webinar program in the IT sector under the roof of Türkiye and MÜSİAD.

At the meeting, where sharings regarding MÜSİAD EXPO 2022 were also made, Pakistani companies were invited to the fair.

The Asia-Pacific region is increasing its importance

The MÜSİAD delegation, which continues its visits to foreign missions and representations under the chairmanship of MÜSİAD Diplomatic Relations Commission Chairman Osman Nuri Önügören, came together with Indonesia's Consul General in İstanbul Imam As’ari and exchanged views on MÜSİAD's work in the Asia-Pacific region.

At the meeting, where Indonesia's importance in the field of regional investment was also touched upon, the opportunities of the Asia-Pacific region for international trade were put on the table.

Consul General As'ari stated that despite the intense economic problems especially during the pandemic period, the ties they established with Türkiye and MÜSİAD have grown even stronger, and expressed that everyone in Indonesia feels intense affection for Türkiye and that people are excited to come to Türkiye.

Consul General As'ari also stated that MÜSİAD is of very great importance regarding Indonesia-Türkiye commercial relations and that they want to take an active role in the activities MÜSİAD will carry out. As'ari reported that the B2B meeting of Indonesian business people organized at MÜSİAD last October was also welcomed with satisfaction by their side.

Expressing that the events including regional work and B2B meetings will expand, Commission Chairman Önügören stated that as MÜSİAD all possibilities would be used to strengthen the trade volume of the two countries.

At the meeting, while it was reported that imports and exports are carried out between the two countries in various items, predominantly raw materials, the importance of the two countries' commercial ties was emphasized once again.

"We attach importance to the development of the bilateral commercial relations of Türkiye and Greece"

Within the scope of the visits carried out under the coordination of the MÜSİAD Diplomatic Relations Commission, the MÜSİAD delegation came together with Greece's Consul in İstanbul Danai Vasilaki and Commercial Counsellor Nicholas Emirzas.

At the meeting, where it was expressed that importance is attached to the development of the bilateral commercial relations of Türkiye and Greece, it was stated that the MÜSİAD Diplomatic Relations Commission aims to turn its cultural relations with neighbouring countries into an advantage.

While Greece's Commercial Counsellor Emirzas expressed that MÜSİAD is a reliable and solid reference in reaching the Turkish market, he said that the bridges to be formed in the field of trade would be reflected positively on the economies of the two countries.

At the meeting, where information regarding MÜSİAD EXPO 2022 was also shared, it was stated that the work concerning the fair creates excitement.

While consultations were held on the European Funds that Greece has in green energy and on how a joint benefit could be obtained from these funds through cooperation with Turkish business people, it was emphasized that the Greek missions could undertake the task of bridging and guiding between Greek companies and Turkish companies.

At the meeting, it was also brought to the agenda that with the resumption of the services of the Bodrum-Kos Island Ferry, whose services were cancelled due to the pandemic, the costs in foreign trade could decrease considerably.

The "Anatolian Economic Diplomacy" project was presented to the foreign missions in İstanbul

In the visits to the İstanbul missions of Azerbaijan, Pakistan, Indonesia and Greece, the "Anatolian Economic Diplomacy" project organized under the coordination of the MÜSİAD Diplomatic Relations Commission found wide coverage.

With the project, in which foreign diplomatic representatives are brought together with different business people in Anatolia, it is aimed to support regional development and to develop direct trade activities.