Turkey trade ties in spotlight

MANAMA: Trade ties will be in focus at Turkish and Bahrain Bilateral Business Forum and B2B meetings being held tomorrow from 9am to 5pm at The Diplomat Radisson Blu Hotel, Residence and Spa.

The event is an initiative of the Turkish Exporters Assembly in co-operation with Bahrain Businessmen’s Association and Bahrain Businesswomen’s Society and the support and co-ordination of the commercial counsellor of Turkish Embassy in Manama.

A delegation of over 14 Turkish companies that are looking to contact and build links with their counterparts in Bahrain will be present during the event.

An embassy official said this will be an excellent opportunity for Bahraini companies to meet and forge invaluable ties with Turkish companies in: Banking and finance, chemical substances and products, pharmaceuticals, electrical, electronics, informatics, grains, pulses, oil seeds, olive and olive oil, healthy foods, food supplements, Dry mixed food and snacks, iron and other metal products, steel, IT, systems integrators, natural stones, marble and travertine, limestone, paper converting industry, school and office notebooks, writing and drawing pads, poultry, frozen chicken, recycling - metals, software developments, healthcare, software – building design and BIM, textile and raw material, baby and kids apparel/accessories, valves and actuators, filters and welding wires, electrodes and welding machines.

In 2018, trade volume between Turkey and Bahrain increased by 17 per cent to exceed $500 million.

However, it is still much under its potential, said the official.

Turkey and Bahrain share similar cultural values.

In many of the products Bahrain imports, Turkey has competitive advantage in world markets.

Turkish food products are liked in Bahrain; there are many Turkish restaurants. A lot of famous Turkish clothing brands gave franchises and opened shops in malls.