Turkish president commends business forum as sign of deep partnership

Visiting Turkish President Abdullah Gul said here on Wednesday a joint business forum held at Sheraton Kuwait Hotel today reflects deep partnership between both sides in trade, economy and investment. Addressing the Forum of the Kuwaiti-Turkish Business Council, Gul thanked the Kuwait Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) for hosting this forum which he hoped would come up with outcomes that could be conducive to mutual economic interests. The Turkish leader appreciated His Highness the Amir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber Al-Sabah''''s invitation to him to visit Kuwait. On his part, KCCI Chairman Ali Ghanim highly acclaimed Turkey''''s democracy, development, scientific modernity, economic reforms and social justice. He said Kuwait boasts of a great democratic system, fair judiciary, advanced banking and investment system, organized stock market, efficient private sector and large experience, not to mention strategic geographic position and modern infrastructure. Thanks to such potentials, Kuwait deserves to be an influential investor in Turkish development projects, he said, adding that Turkey, comparatively, can become an effective partner in Kuwait''''s economic reforms and infrastructure projects. Despite growing trade exchange, Kuwaiti investments in Turkey and influx of Kuwaiti visitors to Turkey, the size of bilateral economic cooperation expectations still falls short of expectations, he said. Therefore, the KCCI chief maintained, there should be more planning tools, infrastructure projects, facilitated transport services and streamlined property ownership procedures for Gulf citizens in Turkey. He also called for swift moves to develop and carry out the free trade zone framework agreement hammered out between the GCC member states and Turkey in May 2005