Culture policy

Culture policy

TUSIAD establishes new union to expand business relations with Armenia

10 November 2006 10:43 (UTC +04:00)

The union was established with the aim of developing economic and commercial relations among neighboring Black Sea and Caspian countries.
TÃœSÄ°AD President Ã–mer SabancÄ± initiated the establishment of the union with the aim of developing economic and commercial relations among neighboring Black Sea and Caspian countries. A decision was made at preparatory meetings in May and June of this year to locate the headquarters of the 12-member UBCCE in Istanbul.
The union was formed with the participation of several TÃœSÄ°AD counterparts from member countries. Armenia became a member of the union with the Armenian Industrialists and Businessmenâ€™s Association.
The UBCCE general assembly will be held at Istanbulâ€™s Sail Halim PaÅŸa YalÄ±sÄ± on Nov. 27, at which Armenia will be represented by Arsen Gazeryan, head of the Armenian Industrialists and Businessmenâ€™s Association and also co-chairman of the Turkish-Armenian Business Council.
TÃœSÄ°ADâ€™s Brussels representative, BahadÄ±r KaleaÄŸasÄ±, said the UBCCE was formed after intensive studies around the Black Sea and Caspian region. The preparatory meetings of the confederation have been completed. Armenia is a member of the union, and they have been invited, he said.
Turkish-Armenian Business Development Council deputy head Noyan Soyak said TÃœSÄ°AD and the Turkish-Armenian Business Council had been exchanging views since 2000. Gazeryan served as a bridge between the business worlds of the two countries, both in his capacity as head of the Armenian association and as co-chairman of the council, he noted, adding that Gazeryan and TÃœSÄ°AD were in constant contact with each other.
â€œArmenian businessmen are informed of every development in TÃœSÄ°AD. When SabancÄ± was elected president, Armenian businessmen congratulated him. We, as the council, also organize meetings where Turkish and Armenian businesspeople come together,â€? he said.
The meeting in November aims to develop Turkeyâ€™s relations with its neighbors, Soyak said.
â€œArmenia is invited within this context. We see this as the continuation of previous meetings. In the upcoming meeting, the launching of bilateral talks between the two countries may come up,â€? he said.
Turkish business circles said nay commercial or economic cooperation with Armenia doesnâ€™t serve the interests of Turkey and those cooperating with Armenian businessmen are Jews and Armenians by origin. /APA/