NEWS SCAN for Turkey – April 28th, 2013
Down below you will find a summary of topics from major Turkish papers and internet sites.
Iran officials say Iran can meet Turkey’s petroleum and natural gas needs
It is reported that during a visit Turkish Development Minister Cevdet Yilmaz paid to Iranian President Mahmud Ahmadinejad, Iran officials said Iran could meet Turkey’s petroleum and natural gas needs. The Iranian President and Turkish Minister reportedly discussed relations between the two countries as well as different means to increase the trade volume between two countries.
After the meeting Turkey-Iran Business Forum was held on which occasion participants stressed that private and public sectors of both countries had important responsibilities in increasing the cooperation. It was stated by YILMAZ that the trade volume between Turkey and Iran was 22 billion USD, and natural gas and petroleum constituted an important part of said figure.
British Pamplona Capital Management negotiating to buy Medical Park Hospitals
It is reported that Pamplona Capital Management, a London-based private equity fund is negotiating to buy majority shares in Turkish hospital group Medical Park. In 2009, The Carlyle Group, a US private equity firm, had acquired a 40 percent stake in Medical Park for an undisclosed amount alongside Turkish businessmen Muharrem Usta and Haydar Sancak, with 30 percent shares each.
Pamplona is known to be supported by Russian billionaire Mikhail Fridman’s Alfa Group, a cornerstone investor of the private equity fund when it was established in 2005.
National Bank of Abu Dhabi (NBAD) from UAE shows interest in corporate banking in Turkey
It is reported that a national bank from United Arab Emirates is working on the prospects of doing corporate banking in Turkey, as expressed by CEO Michael TOMALIN.
Tomalin has reportedly commented that they see Turkey as a priority market in which they plan to operate in trade finance and corporate banking. It is known that NBAD considered acquiring a 70-branch local bank to operate deposit banking in Turkey previously, but gave up the idea due to intense competition.
Senior PKK leader says withdrawal will end by Autumn
Karayılan, Senior PKK leader told reporters on April 27th that PKK withdrawal from Turkey will be accomplished by Autumn 2013. Earlier on 25th he had announced in a press conference that the withdrawal of militants from Turkish soil was scheduled o start on May 8th.
It is understood that jailed leader Öcalan has been influential on the issue and wanted the withdrawal to come to an end soonest possible.
Turkey’s exports increase to countries who provide Turkey with visa-exempt
Turkey Exporters’ Assembly (TIM) Chairman Mehmet Buyukeksi is reported to state that Turkey’s export to visa-exempted countries have increased substantially.The Chairman has also emphasized that visa is both a technical barrier and a psychological obstacle.
BUYUKEKSI noted that Turkey exported products to 242 countries and customs zones and Turkey’s export increased thanks to visa exemptions to several countries. In fact, since the dates visa exemption started, Turkish export to countires such as Jordan, Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Lebanon and Libya, by 19-69 percent. It is reported that Turkey targets an export volume of USD 500 billion by 2023.
28.04.2013
SOURCE: MEDIA
We do not verify above stories neither do we vouch for their accuracy.
