Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan headed for Greece, which is shaken by the most serious crisis of its history and looking for emergency solutions, with a delegation including 10 ministers and around 100 businessmen. PM Erdoğan, who will boost the morale of Greece with the visit that is to start today, will be accompanied by his spouse Emine Erdoğan and daughter Sümeyye in Athens. It is noted that more than 100 businessmen will participate in the visit organized by Turkish-Greek Business Council of DEIK, including the owner of Kebapçı İskender, Mr. Yavuz İskenderoğlu, Global Yatırım Board Chairman Mr. Mehmet Kutman, Erdem Holding Board Chairman Mr. Zeynel Abidin Erdem, Boydak Holding Acting Chairman Şükrü Boydak, Finansbank Board Chairman Ömer Aras, PETKİM’s Vice Chairman of the Board and TURCAS Board Chairman Erdal Aksoy.
Media: Hürriyet Morale boost with 10 ministers
Prime Minister Tayyip Erdoğan heads for Greece, which is shaken by the most serious crisis of its history and looking for emergency solutions, with a delegation including 10 ministers and around 100 businessmen. PM Erdoğan, who will boost the morale of Greece with the visit that is to start today, will be accompanied by his spouse Emine Erdoğan and daughter Sümeyye in Athens. Below is the program of the visit and information about issues on the agenda:
Joint Cabinet
Tonight, a joint cabinet of Turkish and Greek officials named “High Level Strategic Cooperation Council” will convene for the first time in Athens, under the presidency of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Greek Prime Minister Yorgo Papandreu and with the participation of 10 Turkish and 7 Greek ministers. The Council aims to develop the bilateral relations in all areas. Before the council meeting, Turkish and Greek ministers will meet separately in order to make the final adjustments on the cooperation protocols to be signed. The degree of achievement of the protocol targets will be evaluated during the council meeting to be held in Ankara next year.
Prior to the visit of Prime Minister Erdoğan, the historical parliament building in Athens, Sintagma (Constitution) Square, where the prime ministry and ministries are also located, Amelias Boulevard, and the streets opening to the boulevard have been furnished with Turkish and Greek flags.
Media: Milliyet Heading for Greece with 53 businessmen ranging from kebab restaurants to investors
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan will visit Greece during May 13-15, with more than 50 businessmen. For the visit organized by Turkish-Greek Business Council of DEIK, 53 businessmen confirmed their participation, including the owner of Kebapçı İskender, Mr. Yavuz İskenderoğlu, Global Yatırım Board Chairman Mr. Mehmet Kutman, Erdem Holding Board Chairman Mr. Zeynel Abidin Erdem, Boydak Holding Acting Chairman Şükrü Boydak, Finansbank Board Chairman Ömer Aras, PETKİM’s Vice Chairman of the Board and TURCAS Board Chairman Erdal Aksoy. The aim of this visit to be paid to Greece, which is facing the danger of economic collapse, has been an issue of interest. Experts note that in the short term, it would not be possible to increase the opportunities for commercial and economic cooperation with a country in crisis; yet consider that the aim of the Turkish companies participating in the visit might be realizing purchases.
Business Forum to be organized
In scope of the visit, a “Turkish-Greek Business Forum” will be held under the cooperation of Turkish-Greek Business Council of DEIK and counter party institution Federation of Greek Entrepreneurs (SEV), and with the participation of businessmen from two countries. During the program, in which PM Erdoğan and Papandreu are expected to participate, sessions will be organized under the title of “Mapping the Road for a better Turkish-Greek business partnership”, “Strengthening regional and industrial cooperation”, “Turkey as a bridge in entering global markets”, “Turkey and Northen Greece: New ways for win-win cooperation in Southeastern Europe” and “Redrawing the Investment Map of Greece”. The meeting, in which TOBB Chairman Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, TİM Chairman Mehmet Büyükekşi and TÜSİAD Chairman Ümit Boyner are also expected to attend, will be held with the participation of Greek companies including Intralot, EUROBANK, and the National Bank of Greece.