LONDON
The fourth meeting of the Turkey-UK Joint Economic and Trade Committee took place in the British capital of London on Monday.
Turkish Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan, British Minister of State for Trade and Investments Lord Stephen Green, businesspeople and investors from both countries attended the meeting.
Speaking at the meeting, Zafer Caglayan said that Europe should end visa procedures for Turkish business world, academicians, artists and journalists.
Caglayan stressed the importance of increasing cooperation between Turkey and the UK.
If we compare Turkey-UK relations to basketball, we need to score three-point field goals, Caglayan said.
The way to three-point field goal is by doubling our trade and increasing mutual investments, Caglayan indicated.
"Despite the difficulties in three-fourths of the markets to which Turkey exports products, Turkey became the second country in the world in 2012 with the biggest increase in exports. We received the silver medal and now aim for the gold medal," Caglayan stated.
Caglayan called on British business world to increase interest in Turkey if they wanted to become global players.
Just in three fields, Turkey will make investments worth 250 billion USD in the next 10 years, Caglayan said.
"Turkey is the country connecting Beijing with London and vice versa. Turkey has a crucial location in transportation," Caglayan also said.
Lord Green, in his part, emphasized the importance of strategic partnership and mutual investments between the two countries.
"Turkey is a growing, large and young market," Lord Green stressed.
"The UK is Turkey's strongest supporter in the EU," Lord Green underlined.
Reminding that the UK would begin a new visa procedure for the business world in May, Lord Green noted that "with the new implementation, 500 companies from Turkey and the UK would be able to receive easier visas".
Minister Zafer Caglayan will depart from London on Tuesday for Brussels.
