Qatar-Turkey trade likely to reach $2bn by year-end

Qatar-Turkey trade volume is expected to reach $2bn by the end of 2018, according to ambassador Fikret Ozer, who spoke on the sidelines of the ‘Turkey Festival’ launching at Al Meera Hyatt Plaza held on Wednesday.

Ambassador Fikret Ozer said the volume of trade between Qatar and Turkey stood at $1.3bn from January to August 2018, pointing to the possibility of reaching $2bn by year-end, state-run Qatar News Agency (QNA) reported.

He also said there is a possibility to establish a company specialised in maritime transport between the two countries, which is under study and is scheduled to launch soon as he stressed on the need for such a company. Ozer noted that the volume of contracts awarded to the Turkish companies engaged in contracting works in Qatar is estimated at $15bn.

Ozer thanked Al Meera for featuring Turkish products in its stores. He stressed that the availability of Turkish goods in Al Meera markets proves the importance attached by the Qatari market to Turkish products.

He said since the beginning of the unjust siege on Qatar, Turkey “has quickly provided” all the food commodities necessary to meet the needs of the Qatari market, which in turn, contributed to the introduction of more Turkish products to the Qatari market and Qatari businessmen.

He added that this contributed to the increase of Turkish exports to the Qatari market, which rose to $750mn in 2017 from $450mn in 2016.

Speaking on the sidelines of the event, Al Meera chairman Sheikh Thani bin Thamer bin Mohamed al-Thani said Turkey is one of the first suppliers of various goods and products to the Qatari market.

He noted that Turkish products have been accepted by consumers, adding that the availability of Turkish products in Al Meera branches raises the competitiveness of the company.