DAMASCUS, SANA _ The Arab-Turkish Economic Forum is scheduled to be kicked off in Istanbul on Thursday with the participation of Prime Minister Mohammed Naji Ottri, Premiers of the majority of the Arab countries and a number of economic, industrial, trade, tourist, banking and investment companies in Turkey and the Arab countries, in addition to more than 800 Arab and Turkish officials, investors and businessmen.
The Forum constitutes an important opportunity to discuss issues of the Arab-Turkish economic relations and to enhance the financial, banking and investment cooperation in the tourist, energy, waters and security fields.
The Forum, which is organized by Turkish Economy and Business Group in cooperation with Finance Ministry, Committee of Foreign Economic Relations in Turkey and the Arab League, is scheduled to handle the banking and stocks exchange markets activities in Turkey, the economic and investment developments, real-estate and improving regional tourism in Turkey and its growing needs of energy, in addition to the relations with the Arab countries, prospects of economic and trade activities in the Arab countries and Turkey's geographical position in the heart of the Middle East, Europe and Eurasia.
The volume of common trade and investment exchanges between Syria and Turkey witnessed incessant growth. The trade exchange reached to USD 1.1 billions in 2007 from USD 850 millions in 2006, while the volume of the Turkish investment in Syria is estimated at USD 900 millions in various fields.
The reciprocal exchange of visits of the two countries officials contributed to consolidating the economic, political, social and cultural relations between the two countries.
The Syrian-Turkish First Economic Forum was opened in Damascus in last April in presence of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and more than 7000 Arab, Turkish and foreign investors and businessmen.
H.Zain/ Idelbi
