Turkish business leader in Cairo for commerce meetings

CAIRO

AA photo

Rifat Hisarcıklığolu, the head of Turkey’s largest trade organization, has traveled to Egypt to attend the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry & Agriculture (ICCIA) meetings at a time when relations between the two countries are interrupted due to political problems.

Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Hisarcıklıoğlu, who arrived in Cairo on a private plane, was not representing Turkey, but participated in the congress board meeting and general assembly as the deputy president of the organization. 

Hisarcıklıoğlu, who is also the deputy president of Eurochambres, also attended a European Union-Africa energy forum. 

Late on Nov. 8, Hisarcıklıoğlu met with his Egyptian partner, Ahmet el-Vekil, telling him about the problems Turkish businesses face in the country.  

Hisarcıklıoğlu and an accompanying team were welcomed by Turkey’s top diplomat in the country, Charge d’Affaires Ali Rıza Güney.

Turkey is not represented at the ambassador level in Egypt, as ties deteriorated after then-army chief and now President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi overthrew Mohamed Morsi in July 2013.
 
Egyptian newspapers spared a large space for the visit, Anadolu Agency reported.

The trade volume between the two countries stood below $500 million annually before an agreement in 2005. 

As of 2010, the figure exceeded $3 billion, as Turkish investments in the country surpassed $1 billion. 
However, the trade has been badly affected since the turmoil in the country and el-Sisi’s coming to power.