Turkey has much to help SA, especially in building of oil refineries

A TURKISH delegation of over 200 businessmen and women launched the South African branch of Musiad at the Radisson Blu hotel in Sandton on Monday night. The deputy chairman of Economic Affairs of Turkey`s ruling AK Party, Saban Disli, was the guest of honour at the launch, and is here to forge greater levels of business co-operation between the two countries.

“As part of the follow-up to President Jacob Zuma’s visit to Turkey in October last year, we would like to deepen business contacts and increase two-way trade and investment between South Africa and Tur- key,” Disli told Independent Media.

“The hope had been to increase our trade relations to US$5 billion (72bn), but two-way trade is currently at $1.4bn and investment at $1bn,” Disli said.

He describes Musiad as an independent Turkish businessmen’s organisation. In South Africa this week, 35 business people from the management of Musiad, known as the “tigers of Anatolia” are here to forge greater trade relations with South African companies.

Musiad was established in 1990 by five industrialists and businessmen. It has expanded and now has about 11 000 members, more than 46 000 companies, 86 branch offices throughout Turkey, and 169 allied contact points in over 65 countries.

Disli has recently been in the news following the detention of his brother, General Mehmet Disli, who was part of the opposition who attempted the coup in Turkey on July 15.

The Turkish economy has been negatively affected by two consecutive downgrades by Standard and Poor’s, and the negative outlook forecast by Fitch rating agency. Moody’s will decide soon whether to also downgrade Turkey.

Disli said Turkey has much to offer South Africa, especially in the construction field. “We are second in the world in construction after China. We can assist South Africa in the construction of oil refineries.”