The 1st GCC-Turkish Business Forum started here yesterday. The two-day Forum was organized by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in cooperation with the Union of Turkish Chambers of Commerce and Industry and Turkish Ministry of Commerce. The speech of GCC Secretary General, Dr. Abdul Latif Al-Zayani was delivered by GCC Assistant Secretary-General for Economic Affairs Abdullah bin Juma Al-Shibli in which he stressed the importance of economic and trade partnership between the two sides, and the need to take advantage of Turkish expertise in supporting GCC development through the establishment of joint projects. It is noteworthy that the volume of trade exchanges between the two sides amounted to $ 20 billion in 2010 compared with $ 2 billion in 2000.