Dr. Zeynel Abidin Erdem, the Chairman of DEIK Turk-Spanish Business Council was honored as the Spanish Honorary Consul General for Marmara Region which covers Bursa, Kocaeli, Izmit, Sakarya, Bolu, Bilecik and Balıkesir thanks to his contributions to the promotion and improvement of mutual cooperation and friendly relations between two countries. The Official Certificate of Incumbency was entrusted by Mr. Abdullah Gul, the Minister of Foreign Affairs today. The ceremony to which Mr. Luis Felipe Fernández de la Peña, the Spanish Ambassador also attended was held in Turkish Republic Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Founded in 1989 in order to promote and develope economic, political and cultural relations between Turkey and Spain courtesy of Mr. Turgut Ozal, DEIK Turkish-Spanish Business Council has achieved much since its inception under the presidence of Dr. Zeynel Abidin Erdem. In addition to commercial and financial cooperations between Turkey and Spain, the Council has contributed to the process of Turkey’s full accession to the EU, and played a major role in Turkey’s ranking of six among Spain’s biggest trade partners. DEIK Turkish-Spanish Business Council also worked hard for the recent surge of Spanish companies investing in Turkey to considerable levels, paving the way for powerful collaborations in numerous industries, in particular, in manufacturing business.

Dr. Zeynel Abidin Erdem emphasized invaluable contributions of Mr. Luis Felipe Fernández de la Peña, Spain’s Ankara Ambassador, to mutual relations between two countries; Mr. Erdem further stated that Spain is a very valuable and important country for Turkey, always standing beside her with pure sincerity: Dr. Erdem reminded that Spain was the first country even before Germany who gave the first support to Turkey for the EU. Dr. Erdem pointed out that long-term and low interest credit lines are now available for investment. Stating that Spain is an outstanding and remarkable country in numerous issues from the manufacturing of industrial products to organic food to air pollution investments to transport, Mr. Erdem went on: “Spain has made available 37-year low-rate interest with 17 years thereof being grace period; the credit’s total sum amounts to US$40 million and is for the purpose of maintenance and rehandling of Istanbul-Ankara Railway Line. It is ready to extend a further credit line for steel required for the third bridge which, according to projections, will span over Dardanelles. The amount of that credit is 600 million $. Spanish firms are global leaders in the manufacturing of equipment and machinery, transport aircraft and helicopters for constructing a bridge like Dardanelles Bridge or railways, bullet trains, marine, road and air carriage. Spanish government and firms welcome any kind of collaboration. They invite us to work out and develop business and exploit opportunities in South America.

Dr. Erdem who has been holding the title of DEIK Turkish-Spanish Business Council Chairman for 13 years was also honored and awarded by Juan Carlos I, the Spanish King in 2002 to the “Commander of the Order of the Spanish Civil Merit”.

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