Istanbul to host Ecuador, Ghana missions

ISTANBUL - Anatolia News Agency

Istanbul is hosting two forums focusing on business relations with Ghana and Ecuador, respectively, this week.

The Turkey-Ghana Business Council will be held tomorrow at Istanbul TOBB Plaza. With 27 businessmen from Ghana and 50 businessmen from Turkey, the meeting will focus on several major industrial sectors. Ghana leads sub-Saharan African countries in terms of volume of bilateral trade, according to Turkey’s Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK). Ghana’s total exports were $10.4 billion in 2011 while imports were $11.9 billion.

Turkey and Ghana registered $290 million of bilateral trade in 2010. The trade volume increased to $521.7 million last year. Turkey’s import volume from Ghana was $292.2 million in 2011. The main problems that Turkish firms have exporting to Ghana are challenges in receiving visas and letters of  guarantee, the lack of direct banking relations and the high level of tariffs, according to officials.

The Turkey-Ecuador Trade and Investment Forum is scheduled to take place March 16. The forum, organized by the Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists of Turkey (TUSKON), the Ecuadorian Embassy in Ankara and the Ecuador Trade Office, will bring Turkish and Ecuadorian businessmen together to discuss trade and investment opportunities.

Speakers will include Turkish Economy Minister Zafer Çağlayan and Ecuadorian President Rafael Vicente
Correa Delgado, as well as a number of Ecuadorian ministers.