The balance sheet for 2012 and the outlook for future economic and trade relations between Italy and Turkey. This was one of the key topics for discussion during the traditional meeting in Istanbul’s Palazzo Venezia between the Italian Ambassador in Turkey, Gianpaolo Scarante, and the Italian business community.
The event was attended by around 100 members of the business community from all sectors active in bilateral trade, the heads of all the Italian institutions operating in Turkey, the Consulates, the Italian Trade Institute and the Chambers of Commerce of Istanbul and Izmir. Also attending were the Bank of Italy’s Financial Attaché and the SACE representative.
Trade surplus for Italy
Ambassador Scarante sketched out a positive balance sheet for 2012, especially if measured against the international economic difficulties. While imports from Turkey fell, Italian exports stayed at the record levels seen in 2011 (13.4 billion dollars), resulting in a trade surplus of around 7 billion. Italian business in Turkey also performed well, with the number of Italian enterprises increasing to 975 and direct investment growing by 50%.
