ATO PRESIDENT BARAN: "400 TURKISH COMPANIES IN MALTA CONTRIBUTE GREATLY TO THE MALTESE ECONOMY"

BARAN: "WE WILL DO ALL IN OUR POWER TO IMPROVE BILATERAL TRADE"

September 11, 2020 - Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO) President Gürsel Baran stated that "400 Turkish companies in Malta contribute greatly to the Maltese economy", pointing out that political and economic relations with Malta is rooted deeply in history.

H.E. Theresa Cutajar, Ambassador for Malta in Ankara, who had been appointed to her duty in April 2020 btu is yet to present her credentials to President of the Turkish Republic Recep Tayyip Erdoðan due to delays caused by the Covid-19 outbreak, visited ATO President Gürsel Baran in his office. ATO President Barani who spoke in the meeting, gave brief information about Turkey's battle against the pandemic. Baran said, "We have started to produce ventilator machines which have become of utmost importance in the world, and we exported these to 66 countries. Turkey has contributed to 125 countries' battle against the virus with masks, suits and other protective gear, produced with the input of vocational high schools."

Emphasizing on the need for more effort towards increasing bilateral trade with Malta, Baran informed H.E. The Ambassador in detail about ATO's field of work and Ankara economy. Noting that the trade volume between Malta is at the considerable amount of $850 million, Baran said "Trade with Turkey makes up of approximately 8-10% of Malta's foreign trade volume. We will carry these numbers further. We will do all in our power to improve bilateral trade."

Underlining that ATO will be pleased to strengthen relationships with Malta Chamber of Commerce, Baran stated that he believes cooperation between the two countries will soar once the battle against coronavirus is over.