Minister: Visa, quota issues hinder Turkish-Greek trade

“However, to reach this goal visa requirements for Turkish businessmen and quota limitations in place for Turkish semitrailers should be abolished,” he added.Ergün, speaking to Sunday’s Zaman, pointed out that Greece is also ready to take positive steps concerning measures needed for increasing border and coastal trade. “I believe that trade volume between the two neighboring countries will even exceed $5 billion. At this point, we should primarily take steps that will serve to increase coastal and border trade activities. The total investment of Greeks firms that operate in Turkey, which are about 500 in number, exceeds $6 billion. However, the total amount of Turkish investments in Greece is about $30 million. Therefore, mutual investment, especially Turkish investment in Greece, should increase further. To achieve this, barriers should be removed. In particular, the obligation to obtain a visa to visit Greece should be unnecessary for Turkish businessmen. How can they export their products if they are not granted the privilege of visiting Greece without a visa? Doesn’t the continuation of such requirements for businessmen pose a barrier to free trade?” he asked.

Ergün drew attention to the fact a limit of 20,000 was placed on the number of Turkish semitrailers allowed to cross the Turkish-Greek border and asked that the number of such semitrailers heading for Greece be increased to 25,000, which would be economically beneficial, and stressed that the practice of limiting the amount of gasoline in fuel tanks of such vehicles, which have a maximum capacity of 550 liters but are only allowed to have 200 liters, should end. He added that getting rid of such limitations will increase Turkey’s trade volume.

Meanwhile, a series of senior level meetings was organized to expand the trade volume between the two countries. The first meeting of the Turkish-Greek Regional Business Forum was held in Edirne last year. The second meeting will be held in Greece, while its date is yet to be decided. According to a report from the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK), Turkey is planning to organize a business council meeting with Greece in the second half of 2011 in İstanbul.

Turkish authorities mentioned that Greece is not in favor of abolishing the limitations for the number of Turkish semitrailers crossing the Turkish-Greek border and the amount of gasoline allowed in fuel tanks in these trucks. In response to Greece’s attitude, Turkish authorities pointed out that Turkey is a member of the customs union in line with the related decision of the Association Council and stressed that removing the quotas would not mean going against EU standards. They enlightened the reporters from Sunday’s Zaman about this issue of lifting the quota and pointed out that a far greater number of Turkish semitrailers cross the Turkish-Greek border than do Greek semitrailers: “Annually, 100-200 Greek semitrailers cross the Turkish-Greek border, while the figure is 20,000-25,000 for Turkish semitrailers. Due to Turkey’s numerical supremacy, Greece’s opposition to any expansion of the quota continues,” they said.

Greek government spokesman George Petalotis, speaking at the first business forum, stressed how such get-togethers are vital in strengthening the relationship between the two countries and explained that the scope of this relationship should not be limited just to diplomatic visits.

Turkish authorities mentioned that agreeing on organizing business forums between Turkey and Greece at short intervals signifies that the boundaries of the relationship between the two countries will not only be drawn through diplomacy. They also explained that the Greek side adopted a positive and constructive attitude in engaging in cooperative activities aimed at improving trade and mutual relations through business forums. DEİK officials evaluated the progress made as well as the current position and expressed how they are determined to strengthen economic and trade relations between the two countries.