Netherlands to ask occupational declaration instead of visa

ISTANBUL (AA) - August 7, 2012 - The Netherlands will ask only occupational declaration instead of visa from Turkish businessmen.

Dutch Consul General in Istanbul Onno Kervers told AA on Tuesday that after Dutch jurisdiction objected to visa procedures for Turkish businessmen, the Dutch officials decided to only ask for an occupational declaration instead of visa.
With a formal announcement which will be prepared by the Consulate General in Istanbul in coming days, we will demand only occupational declaration from Turkish businessmen, said Kervers.
We are very serious about this. We are aware that a step should be taken in order to boost the relations, added Kervers.
Noting that they gave visa to 16,000 Turkish citizens in 2008, Kervers said that they envisioned this figure to reach 30,000 in 2012.
Kervers said that currently 156 of 3,834 international companies were established by Turkey in the Netherlands.
Kervers added that Dutch companies saw Turkey as a center for their regional economic activities.
Direct investments made by the Netherlands in Turkey was 718 million USD in 2010, one billion USD in 2011, and 495 million USD in the first five months of 2012, he said.

Reporting by Gokhan Kurtaran