Turkish regions invite Ukrainian entrepreneurs to cooperate

Turkish regions of Kütahya, Eskişehir and Afyonkarahisar invite Ukrainian entrepreneurs and business representatives to cooperate.

This was discussed at a business forum in Afyonkarahisar on December 9, an Ukrinform correspondent reported.

"Ukraine–Turkey relationship continue developing. President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky and President of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan have very good relations based on trust and friendship. Thanks to their friendship and this strong will, a solid strategic partnership between our countries develops," said Ambassador of Ukraine to Turkey Vasyl Bodnar.

According to him, the annual trade turnover between Ukraine and Turkey is about $5 billion and continues to grow. There is also an increase in tourist flow between the two countries.

Bodnar also stressed that one of the leading areas of cooperation is defense, which is important for the exchange of technologies. The most striking example of cooperation in the military-technical sphere, in his opinion, is the Akıncı combat drone which has Ukrainian-made engines.

Honorary Consul of Ukraine in Kütahya Erkan Güral presented opportunities for cooperation between three provinces – Kütahya, Eskişehir and Afyonkarahisar – which are part of the consular district of the Honorary Consulate in Kütahya.

"Our region has ample opportunities for cooperation in various fields. And this forum envisages a plan not only for holding meetings, but for concrete sectoral events for business representatives of our countries," Güral said.

Head of the International Turkish Ukrainian Business Association Ayhan Akbaba reminded that the total investment of the Association members in Ukraine is $4 billion and its offices operate in seven cities of Ukraine.

"Thanks to the wide representation in different regions of Ukraine, we actually work in all areas and provide assistance to Turkish business. Members of the Association work in almost all areas, including construction, logistics, telecommunications. Sixty-one percent of our members are citizens of Turkey, thirty-nine percent are citizens of Ukraine," Akbaba said.

During the forum, First Secretary of the Embassy of Ukraine in Turkey Borys Uvarov made a presentation on the economic and investment potential of Ukraine.

The forum was attended by business representatives of the two countries, who expressed interest in strengthening cooperation in various fields.

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