Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat said, “Thanks to the beneficial and special relations established by our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with the leaders and governments of almost all Balkan countries, Turkey plays the most important role as an element of peace and stability in the Balkans.” he said.
Evaluating the relations between the Balkans and Türkiye to the AA correspondent after their program in Sarajevo, the capital of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bolat said that the region is of great importance to them.
Stating that it is also important for the Balkans to be the main transit corridor between Turkey and European countries, Bolat said, “We are in favor of the continuation of peace, security and stability in the Balkans, with the strength we derive from our history and historical relations, as well as our economic and commercial relations being a very important transit route. Thanks to the beneficial and special relations established by our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan with the leaders and governments of almost all Balkan countries, Turkey plays the most important role as an element of peace and stability in the Balkans.” playing.” he said.
Reminding that there were bloody wars between countries and borders during the transition period of the Balkan countries after the fall of communism in the 1990s, Bolat said, “More than 250 thousand people were martyred in the war in Bosnia and Herzegovina. We see that peace and stability were achieved to a great extent in the period after our President established the government at the end of 2002.” he said.
“Our trade is increasing further thanks to investments”
Stating that Türkiye has grown its economic relations in the Balkans by strengthening them in the fields of trade, investment and services, Bolat said that foreign trade with all Balkan countries, especially Romania, is in an increasing trend.
Stating that Türkiye is on the side that has a surplus in this trade with its strong industrial infrastructure and strong products, Bolat said, “Our trade is increasing further thanks to investments. To achieve this, both trade diplomacy and political diplomacy are carried out at the highest level. Countries such as Croatia and Romania, which are among the Balkan countries, are already integrated with us in industrial products through the customs union. In addition, we have free trade agreements with Bosnia and Herzegovina since 2003 and with North Macedonia since 2000.” “There is, it is progressing quite well and there are agreements that increase our trade and there is an increasing visitor traffic with mutual visits in tourism.” he said.
Stating that there is an increase in the number of tourists coming to Türkiye from the Balkan countries, Bolat noted that visits from Türkiye to the Balkan countries have also increased.
Bolat emphasized that, within the scope of his visit to Bosnia and Herzegovina, they signed the “Pan-European Mediterranean Convention Joint Committee Decision on the Update of the Rules of Origin” with the Minister of Foreign Trade and Economic Relations, Stasa Kosarac, to further develop trade.
“We benefit greatly from Türkiye’s increasing popularity in the field of trade.”
Bolat stated that under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Türkiye has taken giant steps in economy, industry, services and exports.
Underlining that they increased national income by 6.5 times and exports by 7.5 times in dollar terms, Bolat said:
“Our country has gained great prestige and reputation with our active diplomacy, leadership and mediation efforts in many international disputes in international politics, international forums and platforms. In this sense, we, as the Ministry of Commerce, benefit a lot in the field of trade policy. We benefit from Türkiye’s increasing popularity and reputation in order to increase Türkiye’s exports in terms of goods and services. Our products are also of high quality and technology is increasing, at this point, our embassies are working very well, our trade attachés are working very well.”
Stating that chambers of commerce and associations established by Turkish business people in foreign countries are also doing useful work, Bolat said, “Competitors are also working. Especially Far Eastern competitors, countries and companies are also working hard. In this sense, we will not lose the positions we have gained at first. Then, by expanding our field, we will hopefully work hard and be successful to make the Turkish Century the century of commerce in the world.” he said.
