Turkey, Qatar, Iran to discuss land trade routes

By Seval Ocak Adiyaman and Tolga Albay

IZMIR, Turkey

Ankara, Doha and Tehran want to discuss land trade routes on the sidelines of the oath-taking ceremony of Iran's president-elect Hassan Rouhani on Saturday, Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci said Friday.

"We're thinking about alternatives for land trade routes with Qatar but the easiest way is passing through Iran," Zeybekci told Anadolu Agency in an exclusive interview.

In early June, a handful of Arab states -- led by Saudi Arabia -- abruptly severed diplomatic relations with Qatar and imposed a blockade on the tiny Gulf country, accusing it of supporting terrorist groups.

The Qatari government has denied the accusation, blasting the blockade as unjustified and a violation of international law.

"We want to meet all of Qatar's needs. We want all good providers in Turkey to sell products, including cleaning materials, domestic appliances [...] and textile, in Qatar," Zeybekci stated.

Trade between Turkey and Qatar increased in June and July, Zeybekci said, adding: "We have to make this increase permanent."

Turkey's exports to Qatar totaled $52.4 million in June 2017, while they reached $36.2 million in May 2017. Turkey's imports from Qatar amounted to $23.7 million in June, compared to $19.6 million in May.

Zeybekci said using cargo planes to carry products was not sustainable.

"We want to make it [transportation] economic, sustainable and reliable," he added.

"Shipment by sea will gain importance. We foresee that at least four large tonnage ships would go to Qatar monthly but the land route is an alternative for carrying flexible and smaller packages," Zeybekci added.