WITH ARMENIAN-TURKISH BORDER OPEN, TRADE TURNOVER TO TRIPLE
PanARMENIAN.Net
16.02.2009 17:23 GMT+04:00
/PanARMENIAN.Net/ Kaan Soyak, co-founder and co-chairman of the
Turkish-Armenian Business Development Council (TABDC) said Turkish
and Armenian entrepreneurs are awaiting normalization of relations
between their two countries so they can go ahead with new projects
that will benefit both sides.
One of these projects is the establishment of a qualified industrial
zone between Turkey and Armenia for cooperation in the textile sector,
according to him.
Noting that Armenia is active in the textiles business abroad,
Soyak said they also have an effective marketing network in the
United States.
"We can use this to the advantage of both sides. … In Turkey, we
have machines and fabrics, and there is a labor force in Armenia. It
is possible to produce cost-effective textiles and sell them in the
United States without taxes and customs tariffs. With that aim, the
TABDC has been working with U.S. Congressmen for years to map out
the details of the project. But we are waiting for the improvement
of Turkey-Armenia relations," Soyak said.
"Moreover, with the opening of the Armenian-Turkish border, the trade
turnover between the two countries will reach $300 million, what is
significant for southeast and east provinces of Turkey," he added.
Commenting in Armenia’s inclusion in Nabucco project, he said, "As
we all know, due to political problems between Armenia and Turkey
and Armenia and Azerbaijan the Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline project
bypassed Armenia and went through Georgia at an extra 20 percent cost."
"Inclusion of Armenia in the Nabucco project is definitely on the
table. I assume parties are waiting for the normalization of relations
between Armenia and Turkey to advance in this regard," he added,
Today’s Zaman reports.
From: Emil Lazarian | Ararat NewsPress
