NEWS SCAN for Turkey – April 5th, 2013
Down below you will find a summary of topics from major Turkish papers and internet sites.
American energy giants Energy Allied to invest 3 billion dollars in Turkey
It has been stated by Economy Minister Zafer Çağlayan has said that the incentive system has been increasing the appetite of foreign investors. Çağlayan has also announced that American energy giants Energy Allied International will be making a three billion dollar investment in in the Aegean province of Manisa – which will be using coal to produce ammonium, urea and sulfuric acid. It has been stated that this is expected to decrease Turkish imports by 1.5 billion dollars. It is reported that an agreement has been signed with Turkey’s Coal Enterprise for the use of the coal reserves in Soma, Manisa.
Prime Minister Erdoğan will meet Obama in USA on May 16th
It has been reported that PM Erdoğan is due to visit Washington in May. Erdoğan is scheduled to get together with President Obama at the White House on 16th May 2013, as well.
In said meeting it is expected that Prime Minister Erdogan and President Obama will discuss bilateral relations, commercial and economic cooperation, counter-terrorism as well as other regional and international issues of top importance to include Syria in the first place.
Turkish FM encourages Arabs to do business in Istanbul
Delivering a speech at a panel titled the “Turkey and Arab world: Strategic Meeting Point Istanbul” at the 8th Turkish-Arab Economic Forum in Istanbul, Turkish Foreign Minister said Istanbul was becoming a global capital and called on Arabs to consider this mega city for business.
Emphasizing on the importance of economic factors on enhancing relations between countries Davutoglu said the country of Turkey and the Arab world had overcome the psychological barrier inherited from the past decade and were involved in the course of getting to know each other, again.
Lawyers from Istanbul bar protest the pressure on lawyers and bars in Turkey
At a press conference in Istanbul, lawyers from the Istanbul bar have slammed the pressure practiced on lawyers. On the other hand Ankara bar lawyers have also made statements criticizing the current situation many lawyers are in pointing to the cases which they claim to have been opened for political reasons completely.
Istanbul bar head Kocasakal is also among the 10 lawyers facing criminal charges for trying to influence the judicial process in the alleged coup case known as Balyoz (Sledgehammer). Kocasakal vowed to take a strong stand against all violations of the rights of lawyers and law, saying that no power could seize the lawyers, defense or bars.
Turkish President Gül criticizes EU over visa procedures practiced for Turkish citizens
On his tour of the Baltics, President Gül has met his Lithuanian counterpart Dalia Grybauskaite. During a speech at the Lithuania-Turkey Business Forum in Vilnius Turkish head of state has slammed the EU over its slow visa procedures.
Gül has said “Visa procedures unfortunately take too long and this is a big injustice. The EU has fallen short in failing to sign a visa exemption agreement with Turkey, particularly as it has been signing such agreements with states that have not even started membership negotiations”.
Spanish companies interested in investing in Turkey
Investors from Spain which is hit by an economic crisis that severely affects growth and employment in the country have grown strong interest in the Turkish market based on a powerful economy.
The success of Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria in Turkey has also contributed to encourage other Spanish companies looking for markets with prospects of growth.
Ilker AYCI, the President of the Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey (ISPAT) told reporters at a press meeting during his visit to the Spanish capital Madrid that Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s visit to Spain last November, had also helped in this sense.
05.04.2013
SOURCE: MEDIA
We do not verify above stories neither do we vouch for their accuracy.
