AN ONLINE SEMINAR ORGANIZED TO INFORM ATO MEMBERS ON TRADE, INVESTMENT AND COOPERATION OPPORTUNITIES IN THE PALESTINIAN MARKET.

A "COOPERATION PROTOCOL" WAS SIGNED BETWEEN ATO AND JERUSALEM ARAB CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY.

ATO PRESIDENT BARAN: "WE ARE WITH YOU WITH ALL THE OPPORTUNITIES WE HAVE FOR STRENGTHENING THE PALESTINIAN ECONOMY, ENDING THE OCCUPATION, ESTABLISHING PEACE AND PEACE."

April 9, 2021- The "Information Seminar on Cooperation Opportunities with Palestine", which was held with the joint organization of Ankara Chamber of Commerce, the Embassy of the State of Palestine in Ankara, and the Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry in Jerusalem (JACCI), was held online. Before the seminar, ATO Chairman of the Board Gürsel Baran and Jerusalem Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Kamal Obedat signed the protocol for the development of commercial cooperation between the two countries. Palestinian Ambassador of Ankara Faed Mustafa has also attended the program.

Speaking at the opening of the seminar, ATO President Baran stated that the foreign trade between Turkey and Palestine was at the level of 120 million dollars as of the end of 2020, and that although this figure increased by 58 percent compared to 2019, it is still at a low level. Baran said, "As the professional organizations of the traders of our two countries, we need to increase this number. I hope today's meeting will be successful and our commercial relations will both develop and deepen." Stating that they aim to support the strengthening of the Palestinian economy, Baran said, "As our President has expressed at every opportunity, Turkey has never turned its back on the Palestinian cause and will never turn its back.

Stating that Turkey and Palestine have ties dating back centuries, Baran said, "Beyond the close relationship between our states, we, as the Turkish nation, see the Palestinian people as our brothers." Noting that President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's "One Minute" appearance at the Davos Summit in 2009 went down in history as the clearest indicator of Turkey's sensitivity to the Palestinian cause, Baran said, "We are with you in your struggle for an independent, contiguous and sovereign Palestinian state whose capital is East Jerusalem. We know the economic, political and geographical conditions of Palestine. We want to support you as much as we can. In this context, we take it as our duty to develop mutual trade relations and even reduce the imports of Palestine."

Reminding that TOBB BİS Organized Industry and Technology Zones Company, which is a subsidiary of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), is working to establish an organized industrial zone in Jenin, Baran said, "This organized industrial zone will play an important role in reducing dependency on Palestine's foreign trade" he said.

Speaking at the opening of the seminar, Palestinian Ambassador Faed Mustafa pointed out that the day is a special day due to the signing of a protocol between the Chambers of the Capitals of the two countries, and said, "Jerusalem, one of the parties, has a special place in the hearts of all Muslims. On the other hand, Ankara is a city with international influence, not only in Turkey but also in the region. Having agreements between the two capitals is considered the mother of all agreements." Noting that Palestine and Turkey are sister countries, the Ambassador said, "The countries have deep historical ties, their past was common, their present will be common and their future will be common."

Jerusalem Arab Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Kamal Obedat stated in his speech that the pandemic affected Palestine as well as the whole world, and said that Jerusalem paid the highest price due to the cessation of visits during the epidemic process. Explaining that before the month of Ramadan, cheap and discounted shopping opportunities were given in the old Jerusalem region, Obedat said that on this occasion, workplaces were also provided. "We want to bring movement to Masjid al-Aqsa, which was stagnating during the Corona period," Obedat said.

After the speeches, Baran and Obedat signed the cooperation protocol between the two Chambers, which includes articles aimed at improving cooperation. At the seminar, presentations were made to ATO members about the Palestine and Jerusalem Economy, Tourism and Hotel Management, Construction and Information Technologies Sectors.