Turkish Ambassador Hopes Trade Between Qatar, Turkey Reach $2 billion by End of 2018

Doha, October 24 (QNA) - HE Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to the State of Qatar Fikret Ozer expressed hope that the volume of trade between his country and the State of Qatar will reach $2 billion by the end of 2018. This came in remarks by HE the Turkish Ambassador on the sidelines of Al Meera Consumer Goods Company's hosting of the Turkish festival, which showcases the Turkish food products at Al Meera, starting from today until the sixth of November. HE the Turkish Ambassador said that the volume of trade between Qatar and Turkey has reached $1.3 billion since the beginning of the current year until last August, pointing to the possibility of reaching $2 billion by the end of 2018. He pointed out that there is a tendency to establish a company specialized in maritime transport between the two countries, which is under study and is scheduled to launch soon, stressing the importance of the need for such company. HE the Turkish Ambassador revealed that the volume of contracts awarded to the Turkish companies engaged in contracting works in Qatar is estimated at $15 billion. HE Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to the State of Qatar Fikret Ozer expressed gratitude to participate in the inauguration of Al Meera's first exhibition for Turkish products stressing that the availability of Turkish goods in Al Meera markets proves the importance attached by the Qatari market to Turkish products. He pointed out that since the beginning of the unjust siege on the State of Qatar; Turkey has quickly provided all the food commodities necessary to meet the needs of the Qatari market, which in turn contributed to the introduction of Turkish products to the Qatari market and Qatari businessmen. He added that this contributed to the increase of Turkish exports to the Qatari market, as the Turkish exports to Qatar rose to $750 million in 2017 from $450 million in 2016. HE Chairman of Al Meera Consumer Goods Company Sheikh Thani bin Thamer bin Mohamed Al-Thani said in remarks on the sidelines of Al Meera's Turkish festival that Turkey is one of the first suppliers of various goods and products to the Qatari market, where their products have been accepted by consumers, adding that the availability of Turkish products in Al Meera's branches raises the competitiveness of the company. His Excellency noted that Al Meera plans to hold other festivals from several countries similar to the Turkish festival in the coming months. Deputy Chief Executive Officer of Al Meera Consumer Goods Company Salah Al Hammadi said that the festival will provide an enjoyable visual experience for the Turkish residents in Qatar, where the festival will showcase several aspects of the Turkish culture that they used to witness in their home. He stressed that this event is the beginning of a series of festivals that Al Meera seeks to host in the future, which will represent a number of other countries. Al Meera's IT Executive Director Mohammed Al Badr stressed the company's keenness to provide high-quality products at competitive prices to its customers in all its branches across Qatar. He pointed out that the Turkish festival is the beginning of a series of festivals from several countries, in order to achieve better communication with the public, and access to the largest possible segment of consumers. He pointed out that there are 500 products of Turkish products in the festival, all of which are of high quality and at competitive prices for what is available in the local market. (QNA)