Turkey, Qatar want to establish "strategic assembly", Turkish PM says

Turkish Dairy producer Bahcivan Gıda and Qatari company Hasat Hud signed a USD 500 Million cooperation deal before the press conference.

Speaking during the press conference, Erdogan said the two countries wanted to establish a "strategic assembly".

Erdogan said there had been a significant change in the relations between Turkey and Qatar since 2002.

He said the trade volume rose from USD 29 million to 1.2 billion in the mean time and projets worth a total of USD 8.5 billion was undertaken by Turkish companies.

Erdogan said despite a decline in the trade volume due to the global financial crisis, he was confident that trade would pick up again shortly. He said the two countries were getting ready to take major steps for cooperation in the area of energy.

Erdogan said cooperation and friendly ties between the two countries continued to enhance noting that their positions on the solution of regional issues overlapped.

Referring to the agreement signed before the press conference, Erdogan said he believed such agreements would lead to a leap in the food sectors of the two countries.

Answering a question on Turkey's mediating role in talks on Iran's nuclear program, Al Thani said they had full confidence in Turkey.

He said they had no hesitations to make investments in Turkey.

The agreement signed between Bahcıvan Gıda and Hasat Hud foresees cooperation in meat, dairy and food production and construction of production facilities in various locations in Turkey.

/World Bulletin/