'Turkey supports Qatar's 2030 targets'

By Ayse Bocuoglu Bodur

ANKARA

Turkey supports Qatar's 2030 targets and remains open to cooperation in all sectors the Gulf state, Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci said Tuesday.

Speaking at a news conference alongside the visiting head of Qatar's Public Works Authority (Ashghal) Saad bin Ahmad Al Muhannadi in capital Ankara, Zeybekci said: "Turkey's relations with Qatar have been growing recently."

Turkey's exports to Qatar rose nearly 50 percent in 2017 whereas its imports were up over 60 percent, he said, calling on Qatari and Turkish companies to make joint investments.

Al Muhannadi said 40 agreements had been signed between Turkey and Qatar in the recent period.

"There are 180 Turkish companies doing business in various sectors in Qatar," he said.

He added the business volume of four main Turkish construction firms working in Qatar was around $5 billion.

"We care about the two countries' relations. Our target is to increase and strengthen them," he said.