Further Turkish-Israeli cooperation relations
Turkey-Israel, Politics, 2/3/1999

The Turkish Daily News said on Tuesday that Turkey and Israel are expanding their bilateral economic cooperation through implementing new joint projects in new sectors.

The paper added that following the seminar held by Turkish and Israeli businessmen in Istanbul in November 1998, another seminar will be held in the southern Turkish city of Adanah within the coming months.

The paper quoted diplomatic sources in Ankara as saying that the US will give full backing to a "free trade agreement" between Turkey and Israel. The paper continued that following the Istanbul seminar contacts were made between Turkish and Israeli companies with the objective of selling commodities to the United States.

The paper quoted an Israeli official as saying there are several companies that proposed tenders to carry out key projects in Turkey in the areas of irrigation, agriculture and building energy factories. The paper said that the Israeli private "financial affairs company" Tahal is collaborating with Turkish companies on water projects and that the "Jeilan" company, which is the largest construction company in Turkey, proposed tenders to carry out important construction and development projects in Israel including one airport.

The paper added that the major Turkish "Kutch" and "Sabounji" companies opened two offices in Israel several months ago in Israel and they are negotiating now to carry out joint trade activities in Israel.

The paper said that the Turkish and Israeli companies are drawing their projects within three main frameworks, the first establishing joint projects in the republics of central Asia, including Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan and Azerbaijan; the second promoting cooperation in the gas pipe line which crosses the Caspian sea which will be erected to transport natural gas from Turkmenistan; and the third investigating the possibility of joint Israeli-Turkish exportation ventures to the US.

The paper said that a high-ranking Israeli trade delegation will arrive in Turkey to continue negotiations with the Turkish circles within the few coming days. The paper explained that on January 25 the Turkish foreign economic relations commission held meetings, attended by 200 Turkish and Israeli companies as well as officials from the Israeli Ministry of Trade and Industry attended the meeting.

The paper indicated that large Turkish companies attended these meetings, including Nargiz, Ortex, Akso Textile Company, Tanileids, Bousa and Waghez.

The paper added that the US official responsible for economic and agricultural affairs at the US State Department, Stewart Eizenstat, was also there.

Previous Stories:
  Israeli-Turkish trade exchange increasing   (1/6/1999)
  Turkish-Israeli strategic dialogue   (12/30/1998)
  Turkey signs trade agreement with Israel   (12/23/1998)

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