Turkey is keen on forging free trade agreement with Saudi Arabia, Turkish Economy Minister Zafer Ca?layan said Friday at the eighth Trade and Corporate Client Conference organized by the Saudi Arabian National Trade Bank in Istanbul. “We would like to formulate a free trade agreement with friendly countries: Saudi Arabia and the Gulf countries. Such an agreement would really boost trade between our countries,” said Ca?layan, adding that current trade levels between the countries were inadequate. “Our trade volume with Saudi Arabia is around $5 million. In the first nine months of this year, we achieved a $4.6 million external trade level. This will become $6 million by the end of the year. I say that two countries with such a close friendship, who share the same values and beliefs, should have trade levels that are not $6 million, but $16 million at the very least or $30 million. I am hoping today's meeting will act as just such a catalyst,” he said. Moreover, he said “Istanbul's streets are paved with gold,” adding that the Turkish government was planning to enact a law that would make it easier for foreigners, including Saudi citizens, to purchase property in Turkey, in order to attract foreign investment to the country. Meanwhile, Saudi tour operators will be visiting the western Mediterranean provinces of Antalya, Burdur and Isparta for a four-day-long familiarization tour to explore investment opportunities in Turkey Monday. Saudis will attend meetings with members of travel agencies and tour operators as well as hotel managers. The tour is organized by the West Mediterranean Development Agency (WMDA), and Turkish Airlines (THY) and the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, Mediterranean Union of Hotel Owners (AKTOB) are among contributors of the organization. The participants of the familiarization tour will be visiting Olympos Beyda?lar National Park and Tahtal? Mountain on the first day of the tour. On second day, they will visit the Düden Waterfalls and then head to Isparta and Burdur, where they will visit places such as the ?nsuyu Cave, Lake E?irdir and the Davraz Ski Resort, which are the most sought after destinations among participants, according to the WMDA. Participants will proceed to Belek on the third day following a visit to the Karaca?ren Dam, and from Belek they will go to city centers of Alanya and Antalya. The Saudi and Turkish sides will be attending bilateral business meetingsorganized by WMDA on the last day.
