To explore new avenues of investment and trade between Qatar and Turkey, a three-day exhibition showcasing around 300 Turkish firms is set to kick start from April 19 at Qatar National Convention Center. “Turkey and Qatar’s strategic partnership is heading to the world stage with this trade fair. Two great countries are coming together in order to strengthen economic relations having effective commercial strengths,” says expo’s website.
Expo Turkey by Qatar, while aiming to increase opportunities for cooperation between Turkey and Qatar, will strengthen the investment and economic cooperation opportunities for Turkish companies with other GCC countries, it adds. The organisers have termed the expo as an opportunity for Turkish companies to grow their brand awareness in Qatar and GCC which will also open opportunities for Turkish exports to Qatar and GCC.
In a recent interview with The Peninsula, former Turkish ambassador to Qatar Ahmet Demirok had said that the total volume of Qatari investments in Turkey was around $20bn. “This figure includes both public and private sector investments. Qatar National Bank and Commercial Bank of Qatar have invested in banking sector while Aljazeera’s beIN channel also bought a Turkish digital channel,” he said.
On bilateral trade, Demirok had told that bilateral trade volume in 2016 was $1.3bn. He had also said the total worth of various projects being developed or constructed by Turkish companies in Qatar was around $18bn.
The organiser, Medyacity, has termed it as an "ideal platform for market research and customer analysis as well as an opportunity to take a place in the World Cup 2022 bids".
On first day, there will be a “Royal Tour” followed by a number of business conferences. Turkish-Qatar Business Summit will be held on April 20 along with various workshops while the second day will end with a gala dinner. On the third and the last day of expo, "Turkish Celebrity Event and Singing Ceremony" is the main attraction while workshops and conferences will also continue all the day long.
