“A business delegation visiting from Turkey has shown keen interest in partnering with Indian companies in the infrastructure sector viz. road, power, ports and other related sectors,” remarked Rizanur Meral, President, TUSKON (Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists of Turkiye) in an interactive meeting with the officials of the World Trade Centre (WTC) Mumbai. The meeting was organised jointly by the WTC Mumbai and All India Association of Industries (AIAI) at Committee Room, WTC Mumbai on January 23.
Other officials who attended the meeting include Ersin Karaoglan, President – TICCI(Turkish Indian Chambers of Commerce & Industry), Mehmet Ali Seker, Vice President - TICCI, Bulent Acikgoz, Vice President, TICCI, Ozgur Ozdemir, Director - TICCI Mumbai, Kantemir Amitov, Board Member, Business-association "JIA" (of Kyrgyzstan), Abdul Wajidh, Co-ordinator - TICCI Mumbai, Vijay Kalantri, Vice Chairman - MVIRDC WTC, Rupa Naik, Executive Director – AIAI.
Meral added that the macroeconomic fundamental in Turkey is not so strong due to double digit inflation, high interest rates etc. Also, there is slowdown in the economic growth of European countries and other prominent markets in the world. Under this condition, the strong growth in the Indian economy, along with low inflation, offers tremendous potential for foreign companies to invest in this country. Turkish companies find it attractive to invest in the infrastructure, renewable energy, textiles, agro food and other sectors in India.
Meral invited Indian companies to partner with TUSKON’s missions of Focus Africa and Focus Eurasia (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Belarus, Armenia, Russia), to build trade and investment relationship with these countries.
Earlier in his welcome address, Kalantri said, “India and Turkey are natural partners of trade as they have long standing cultural and economic ties. India has the potential to offer attractive returns for foreign investors due to the strong growth in its economy (over 7% GDP growth), progressive policy measures to improve ease of doing business, development of the infrastructure sector etc. Both the countries must collaborate in the areas of infrastructure, construction, renewable energy, textiles etc. Especially, the Turkish companies can participate in the government’s ambitious Smart Cities project by choosing one of the 99 cities chosen under this project.”