Turkey wants to seal trade deal with Qatar: PM

Turkey wants to seal trade deal with Qatar: PM

DOHA/ISTANBUL
Turkey wants to seal trade deal with Qatar: PM

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Signing a free trade agreement with Qatar is a major goal for Turkey, Turkish Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu said April 28, according to Reuters.

Davutoğlu, on an official visit to the Gulf nation, made the comment in a speech at a business forum which was organized by the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK). 

He also said Turkish defense companies were in talks with Qatari counterparts as part of a drive to increase cooperation between the countries.

Meanwhile, Qatari Minister of Economy and Commerce Sheikh Ahmed Bin Jassim al-Thani said April 28 that he viewed favorably a free trade agreement between Arab countries and Turkey.      

“Free trade agreements between Arab countries and Turkey would have a big role on investment opportunities,” he said at the 11th Turkish Arab Economic Forum in Istanbul, as quoted by Anadolu Agency.  
    
The minister added that Qatar was ready to host the first preliminary meeting for such an agreement.  
    
He emphasized that the recent decline of global oil prices had pushed Arab countries to work together even though they were also competitors.       

“Turkish businesses have been playing a great role in the development of Qatar,” the minister added.