As Turkey and Israel seek to overcome years of tensions, businessmen of both countries hope the trip of the Israeli president in Ankara will help add pace for already prosperous trade ties.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog arrived in the capital on Wednesday for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in the first visit of an Israeli leader to Turkey since 2007, when the two countries look for ways to mend once close relationships.
The two leaders will review all aspects of Turkey-Israel ties and will discuss potential areas of cooperation and exploring ways to deepen bilateral relations.
Before of the visit, Turkish and Israeli trade missions reunited in Tel Aviv to sign a memorandum of agreement (MoU) to strengthen cooperation.
“With the synergy and positive atmosphere stimulated by Herzog’s visit to Turkey, we want both countries offer the opportunity for economic mutual growth», Assembly of Turkish Exporters (TIM) head Ismail Gülle told Anadolu Agency (AA).
Visit comes amid Turkey’s efforts to mend frayed relations with many countries in the region including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Gülle pointed out that after Turkey improves son trade ties with Israel and the UAE, business the circles would be also similar welcome steps with Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
“We will further strengthen the energy and power of Turkey’s exports with its neighbours,” he noted.
A delegation from the assembly comprising 100 Turkish companies held more more than 1,000 bilateral business meetings with over 400 Israeli companies, Gülle said.
More potential
He added that the mutual desire to do business seen at the meetings will take the parties beyond the set goals, highlighting the goal of increasing Turkey’s exports to Israel to $9 billion this year.
“We saw the potential here in the trade volume of both countries. I believe we will get there and get there,” Gülle said.
Trade between Turkey and Israel has increased over the past five years, hitting a record $8.4 billion last yearaccording official data, up from $6.2 billion in 2020.
Exports to Israel surged more more than 35% year-over-year at $6.4 billion last yeara record absolute, according to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat). Imports jumped nearly 37% to $2.1 billion.
Israel is one of countries Turkey records a trade surplus with and was its ninth largest export market.
Emphasizing the importance of the visit of an Israeli president to Turkey after many years, Gülle said: “The improvement of our political relations will further strengthen our trade ties. Regional trade will create a very positive infrastructure for promote regional development politics who are far from the war.
Israel open to Turkish imports
Uriel Lynn, head of the Federation of the israeli rooms of Commerce, told AA that Israel is open to Turkish imports.
There is a great possibility to extend and enlarge the product range and the services that Turkish companies provide to Israel, he said.
He pointed out that new Israeli measures open way for Turkey will export more vegetables and agricultural products.
Calling Herzog’s visit to Turkey ” milestone” Lynn added: “Were building a platform for a much stronger base on which we can truly cooperate together. And this is very important. »
A particular area of interest for Turkey and Israel is natural gas. Erdoğan said the visit will herald a “new era” and that the two countries could work together to transport Israeli natural gas to Europe, reviving an idea first discussed more than 20 years ago.
Mediterranean gas supply could reduce European dependence on Russian gas, a hot topic after that of Russia invasion of Ukraine and subsequent calls by European leaders to reduce continental dependence on Russian gas.
From plans for an undersea pipeline linking the Eastern Mediterranean with Europe, excluding Turkey, has stalled after the United States expressed doubts in January.
Turkey has long opposed the project and stressed that any regime aimed at removing the rights of Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in the Eastern Mediterranean will fail.
The EastMed pipeline had benefited from the support of the former Trump administration in the United States However, the Biden administration, in an apparent U-turn, in January expressed doubts about the project citing concerns over its economic viability and environmental costs.
Thaw in ties
Herzog’s visit marks a major thaw in links, although son post is largely ceremonial and all concrete steps towards a reconciliation will require the approval of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
the last the visit of an Israeli president to Turkey was in 2007 and the last travel by one prime minister came the next year. Erdoğan and Bennett spoke in November, the first Phone call in years.
Cratered relationships in 2010 both countries withdrew their ambassadors after the deaths of 10 civilians in an Israeli raid on a Turkish flotilla trying to break through an Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip to deliver humanitarian aid.
Diplomatic links hit a stocking in 2018 when Turkey recalled son ambassador to israel again following the United States decision to relocate son embassy in Jerusalem.
Ankara, which supports a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, has condemned the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and its policy towards the Palestinians, while Israel called on Turkey to drop support for the Palestinian group Hamas which runs Gaza.
Despite the rapprochement, Turkey reigned out giving up son commitment to supporting Palestinian state.
As Turkey and Israel seek to overcome years of tensions, businessmen of both countries hope the trip of the Israeli president in Ankara will help add pace for already prosperous trade ties.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog arrived in the capital on Wednesday for talks with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, in the first visit of an Israeli leader to Turkey since 2007, when the two countries look for ways to mend once close relationships.
The two leaders will review all aspects of Turkey-Israel ties and will discuss potential areas of cooperation and exploring ways to deepen bilateral relations.
Before of the visit, Turkish and Israeli trade missions reunited in Tel Aviv to sign a memorandum of agreement (MoU) to strengthen cooperation.
“With the synergy and positive atmosphere stimulated by Herzog’s visit to Turkey, we want both countries offer the opportunity for economic mutual growth», Assembly of Turkish Exporters (TIM) head Ismail Gülle told Anadolu Agency (AA).
Visit comes amid Turkey’s efforts to mend frayed relations with many countries in the region including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
Gülle pointed out that after Turkey improves son trade ties with Israel and the UAE, business the circles would be also similar welcome steps with Egypt and Saudi Arabia.
“We will further strengthen the energy and power of Turkey’s exports with its neighbours,” he noted.
A delegation from the assembly comprising 100 Turkish companies held more more than 1,000 bilateral business meetings with over 400 Israeli companies, Gülle said.
More potential
He added that the mutual desire to do business seen at the meetings will take the parties beyond the set goals, highlighting the goal of increasing Turkey’s exports to Israel to $9 billion this year.
“We saw the potential here in the trade volume of both countries. I believe we will get there and get there,” Gülle said.
Trade between Turkey and Israel has increased over the past five years, hitting a record $8.4 billion last yearaccording official data, up from $6.2 billion in 2020.
Exports to Israel surged more more than 35% year-over-year at $6.4 billion last yeara record absolute, according to the Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat). Imports jumped nearly 37% to $2.1 billion.
Israel is one of countries Turkey records a trade surplus with and was its ninth largest export market.
Emphasizing the importance of the visit of an Israeli president to Turkey after many years, Gülle said: “The improvement of our political relations will further strengthen our trade ties. Regional trade will create a very positive infrastructure for promote regional development politics who are far from the war.
Israel open to Turkish imports
Uriel Lynn, head of the Federation of the israeli rooms of Commerce, told AA that Israel is open to Turkish imports.
There is a great possibility to extend and enlarge the product range and the services that Turkish companies provide to Israel, he said.
He pointed out that new Israeli measures open way for Turkey will export more vegetables and agricultural products.
Calling Herzog’s visit to Turkey ” milestone” Lynn added: “Were building a platform for a much stronger base on which we can truly cooperate together. And this is very important. »
A particular area of interest for Turkey and Israel is natural gas. Erdoğan said the visit will herald a “new era” and that the two countries could work together to transport Israeli natural gas to Europe, reviving an idea first discussed more than 20 years ago.
Mediterranean gas supply could reduce European dependence on Russian gas, a hot topic after that of Russia invasion of Ukraine and subsequent calls by European leaders to reduce continental dependence on Russian gas.
From plans for an undersea pipeline linking the Eastern Mediterranean with Europe, excluding Turkey, has stalled after the United States expressed doubts in January.
Turkey has long opposed the project and stressed that any regime aimed at removing the rights of Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) in the Eastern Mediterranean will fail.
The EastMed pipeline had benefited from the support of the former Trump administration in the United States However, the Biden administration, in an apparent U-turn, in January expressed doubts about the project citing concerns over its economic viability and environmental costs.
Thaw in ties
Herzog’s visit marks a major thaw in links, although son post is largely ceremonial and all concrete steps towards a reconciliation will require the approval of Prime Minister Naftali Bennett.
the last the visit of an Israeli president to Turkey was in 2007 and the last travel by one prime minister came the next year. Erdoğan and Bennett spoke in November, the first Phone call in years.
Cratered relationships in 2010 both countries withdrew their ambassadors after the deaths of 10 civilians in an Israeli raid on a Turkish flotilla trying to break through an Israeli blockade of the Gaza Strip to deliver humanitarian aid.
Diplomatic links hit a stocking in 2018 when Turkey recalled son ambassador to israel again following the United States decision to relocate son embassy in Jerusalem.
Ankara, which supports a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, has condemned the Israeli occupation of the West Bank and its policy towards the Palestinians, while Israel called on Turkey to drop support for the Palestinian group Hamas which runs Gaza.
Despite the rapprochement, Turkey reigned out giving up son commitment to supporting Palestinian state.