Turkish Forum

Category: Business

  • Turkey to increase gas imports from Iran

    Turkey to increase gas imports from Iran

    Azerbaijan, Baku, March 4/ Trend F.Milad‎‏

    Gas_line_190208

    Iran and turkey will sign a new gas contract despite western sanctions imposed on Iran, the ISNA News Agency reported.

    Based on the contract, Tehran will increase its gas exports to Ankara by 5 million cubic meters per day.

    The contract is likely to be signed at the sidelines of the 3rd meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) energy and oil ministers.

    Under an agreement between Tehran and Ankara, the Islamic Republic should export up to 30 mcm of gas daily to its northwestern neighbor.

    In 1996, Iran and Turkey signed a 25 year agreement to supply 10 billion cubic meters of gas to Turkey annually.

    Iran plans to increase its gas transfer capacity to Turkey and European countries up to 50 million cubic meters per day.

    Iran’s Deputy Oil Minister Javad Owji said on December 30 that the country’s gas exports to Turkey have hit a new record high and surpassed 31 million cubic meters (mcm).

    via Turkey to increase gas imports from Iran – Trend.Az.

  • Syrian industry sues Turkey over ‘looting’

    Syrian industry sues Turkey over ‘looting’

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    A Syrian girl looks through the window of a bus where she has lived with her family for the past eight months at a refugee camp in Bab al-Salam on the Syria-Turkey border, on February 28, 2013. The United States said it would for the first time provide direct aid to Syrian rebels, but not the arms they had hoped for, as well as $60 million in extra assistance to the political opposition. AFP PHOTO/BRUNO GALLARDO

    DAMASCUS: Syria’s industry body has filed a case in a European court against the Turkish government for allegedly sponsoring terrorism and looting factories in strife-torn Syria, a report said Monday.

    The Syrian Chamber of Industry filed the case in an unspecified European country, and accused Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan of backing armed gangs against the national interest of Syria, pro-regime daily Al-Watan reported.

    “This is a case aimed at asserting our rights, regardless of our political opinion,” Al-Watan quoted the chamber’s president, Fares Shehabi, as saying. He said that several Syrian unions had signed on to the complaint.

    “We have the necessary documents … to prove Erdogan’s obvious involvement in sponsoring acts of banditry and terrorism.”

    He said the chamber accused Erdogan of contributing to the “transfer of factory [machinery from Aleppo province in northern Syria] to Turkey,” and of “supporting armed gangs who are committing crimes against the national economy.”

    In January, Syria accused Turkey of plundering factories in Aleppo, once the country’s commercial hub, and called on the United Nations to help put a stop to the theft.

    “Some 1,000 factories in the city of Aleppo have been plundered, and their stolen goods transferred to Turkey with the full knowledge and facilitation of the Turkish government,” the Syrian Foreign Ministry said then in letters sent to the U.N.

    Shehabi said the legal complaint was aimed at compelling Ankara to “change its policy toward Syria” and to bring back the stolen goods.

    Once allied to President Bashar Assad’s regime, Ankara broke ties with Damascus to support the revolt that erupted in March 2011.

     

    A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Daily Star on March 05, 2013, on page 8.

    via Syrian industry sues Turkey over ‘looting’ | News , Middle East | THE DAILY STAR.

  • UAE-Turkey trade up to Dh33.3 billion

    UAE-Turkey trade up to Dh33.3 billion

    Image Credit: Asghar Khan/Gulf News Archive

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    An aerial view of the Jebel Ali Port DP world (JAFZA).

    Abu Dhabi: Trade between the UAE and Turkey amounted to Dh33.3 billion ($9.1 billion) in the first eight months of 2012, which was three times the UAE’s exports to Turkey in 2011, said Shaikha Lubna Al Qasimi, minister of foreign trade at the Abu Dhabi–Turkey Business Forum in Abu Dhabi.

    Al Qasimi said that the UAE economy is expected to grow by 4 per cent this year compared to 3 per cent in 2012 and this will contribute to the success economic and trade plans with Turkey.

    Al Qasimi pointed out that the UAE has started to focus in its investments on countries in Africa and central Asia, whose economies are booming.

    Khalfan Al Kaabi, First Vice Chairman of Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce and Industry, called on enhancing economic and trade relations between the companies and establishments in the emirate of Abu Dhabi with their Turkish counterparts.

    via UAE-Turkey trade up to Dh33.3 billion | GulfNews.com.

  • Turkey To Buy 10 Locally Made Anka Drones

    Turkey To Buy 10 Locally Made Anka Drones

    ANKARA — Turkey is preparing to sign a contract for 10 locally made UAV systems dubbed the Anka, procurement authorities said. They did not specify a contract price.

    Murad Bayar, Turkey’s chief procurement official, told reporters that a final round of talks for the contract involving the 10 UAVs and their ground control stations is underway. He said the contract would be signed in the next couple of months.

    This will mark Turkey’s first purchase of UAVs designed, developed and manufactured indigenously. Bayar promised the Anka would incorporate “progressive design and features.”

    Turkish Aerospace Industries (TAI), maker of the Anka, said the UAV had successfully passed acceptance tests late in January. TAI officials said the final, decisive tests on Jan. 20-21 involved a full endurance, 18-hour flight, a successful auto landing, data link performance at a distance of 200 kilometers under winds up to 45 knots, and night takeoffs and landings. The Anka has registered 140 flight hours.

    Meanwhile, procurement officials said the Turkish police force also is preparing to order the Anka, which means more funding for “fine-tuning efforts” as part of the program.

    In December, Turkey’s defense procurement agency, the Undersecretariat for Defense Industries (SSM) and Tusas Engine Industries (TEI), a private company, signed an agreement under which the company will develop and produce engines for the Anka.

    The protocol was signed at the main office of the agency in Ankara. SSM Chairman Murad Bayar said at the ceremony that building the engine was even more difficult than building the aircraft. However, TEI General Manager Akn Duman said the body had enough infrastructure for the project.

    Anka is a medium-altitude long-endurance (MALE) vehicle; such UAVs usually operate for 24 hours at an altitude of 10,000 feet.

    Anka, meaning Phoenix in English, is the first MALE-type UAV to be produced by TAI. Several prototypes have been produced with other engines. One of the prototypes crashed during a test flight in September but several other flight tests have been carried out successfully.

    A version called Anka+ calls for an armed vehicle, using a rocket attached to its body and sensors.

    via Turkey To Buy 10 Locally Made Anka Drones | Defense News | defensenews.com.

  • Belarus’ Turkey Summit participation discussed in Istanbul

    Belarus’ Turkey Summit participation discussed in Istanbul

    Belarus’ Turkey Summit participation discussed in Istanbul
    01.03.2013 16:03
    MINSK, 1 March (BelTA) – Participation of a delegation from Belarus in the international summit Turkey World Trade Bridge 2013 was discussed in Istanbul on 28 February, BelTA learnt from the Embassy of Belarus in Turkey.

    The issue was considered as part of the talks held between Consul General Igor Bely and Deputy Secretary General of the Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists of Turkey (Tuskon) Coskun Erten.

    The international summit Turkey World Trade Bridge 2013 highlighting the construction industry will be held in Istanbul in June.

    The World Trade Bridge first held by Tuskon in 2006 has gained great popularity and recognition in international business circles. For example, partaking in the 2012 Summit dedicated to the textile industry were over 1,000 businessmen from 130 countries, including private companies of Belarus, and about nearly 1,500 Turkish companies interested in developing international contacts.

    Mr Erten stressed Turkey’s interest in further development of business contacts between the two countries.

    The parties agreed to host the presentation of Belarus’ business potential at Tuscon.
  • Turkey wants bigger role in EV world

    Turkey wants bigger role in EV world

    By Danny King

    In the “You Gotta Start Somewhere” Department, Turkish government officials are vowing to fund the development of Turkish-made electric vehicles in order to increase regional competitiveness within the alt-fuel world, Hurriyet Daily News says.

    Turkey’s Science Ministry will buy 200 electric cars within the next five years and will “grant 100 percent in research and development support” for domestic EV makers. The Turkish government says the focus will be on urban EVs that may be used for public transportation, though didn’t divulge estimated investment figures or other details.

    Either way, the government is pushing for advanced-powertrain development in a Turkish auto industry dominated by four players: Toyota and partnerships that include Ford, Renault and Fiat. About 900,000 vehicles were produced in Turkey in 2009, and the country had a car-to-person ratio of about 1-to-10, according to a 2010 Deloitte report on the Turkish auto industry. That ratio compares to 1-to-2 in Germany and almost 1-to-1 in the US.

    News Source: Hurriyet Daily News

    Image Credit: Istanbul Convention & Visitors Bureau

    Category: EV/Plug-in, Legislation and Policy, Europe/EU, Asia

    Tags: electric vehicle, ev, science ministry, turkey, turkish

    via Turkey wants bigger role in EV world.