The bilateral trade between India and Turkey in the financial year 2017-18 was to the tune of $8 billion and there is potential for both countries to enhance cooperation, said Adnan Altay Altinors, Consul-General, the Republic of Turkey.
The Consul-General was speaking to the media on Thursday which marked the third anniversary of the attempted coup in Turkey.
Mr. Altinors said Turkey has imported raw material such as granite, cotton and minerals from India. “I see a huge potential in business and investment,” Mr. Altinors said and clarified that the bilateral trade of $8 billion was ‘more in favour of India’. He also said the heads of both the countries met during G-20 Summit and discussed how ties could further be strengthened.
The Consulate-General in Hyderabad has seen a spike in issuing of visas to Indians. While the number increased six-fold as compared to 2017, there has been a three-fold increase as compared to last year. “Around 90% of the issued visas are tourist visas,” Mr. Altinors said. To enhance tourism and business ties, Turkey is working towards starting direct flights between Hyderabad and the Turkish city of Istanbul.
Speaking about the coup, Mr. Altinors alleged that Fethulla Gulen, who is considered by many as a spiritual leader, and his organisation, which the Turkish government calls Fethullahist Terror Organisation (FETO), were behind it. He further alleged that the FETO ‘maintains its activities in India and Hyderabad through affiliated organisations’. He said that Turkey had brought this to the attention of India and received a ‘positive response’.
