Istanbul has hosted the first Joint Economic and Trade Commission (JETCO) meeting between Italy and Turkey. The meeting was attended by the Minister of Economic Development, Carlo Calenda, and the Turkish Minister of Economy, Nihat Zeybekci. JETCO aims to enhance the strategic partnership between Italy and Turkey. Italy is, in fact, Turkey’s number three overall trading partner accounting for almost 18 billion euros in exchange activities. During the first meeting of the Commission, the themes at stake included investments, the support to enterprises, obstacles to trade, and collaborations in the fields of science and technology, tourism and culture.
Minister Zeybekci underlined that Italy and Turkey are not competitors but complementary countries. He welcomed the opening of the first Desk for attracting investments in Istanbul. Minister Calenda thanked Turkey for the difficult role the country is playing in migration flow management, and confirmed Italy’s support to Turkey in the European scenario. Italy and Turkey, in fact, share economic and geopolitical concerns. The two nations will enhance their economic collaboration and extend it to third countries, especially those on the African continent. At the end of the meeting, the dignitaries signed the JETCO protocol, while SACE and its Turkish counterpart Eximbank signed a cooperation agreement.
On the same day, Confindustria and ICE also organised a Business Forum with the participation of about 100 Turkish and Italian firms and sectoral panels on energy and health and infrastructures. The focus was on business and partenrship opportunities with Turkey.
During his visit to Istanbul, Minister Calenda also inaugurated the Seyh Suleyman Mescidi Mosque located in the historic Fatih district, which was restored with the contribution of Assoreatauro and ICE funds. The Minister underlined that it was a symbolic moment, as the preservative restoration work succeeded in harmonising the three architectural levels -from Roman, Byzantine and Ottoman times- while also keeping them well differentiated. This harmonious work, where every level is complementary to the other, is equivalent to the relations between our countries and cultures. The inauguration event was attended by Deputy Prime Minister Veisy Kaunak, the Governor of Istanbul Vasip Sahinm, and the Mayor Kadir Topbas.
