Second Turkey Trade Fair underway in Accra

Accra, Dec. 9, GNA - About 67 Turkish companies on Tuesday began a four-day exhibition of their products in Accra, with a call on the Ghanaian authorities to put in place measures to check double taxation of foreign entrepreneurs.

Mr Kenan Tepedelen, Turkish Ambassador, who made the call, said the world was living in state of economic diplomacy hence the need for Ghana to honour the trade agreements with Turkey including mutual protection of businesses and elimination of multiple taxation. The exhibition which is the second of its kind is being organised by Meridyen International Fair Organisation of Turkey with support from Ghana Export Promotions Council (GEPC), Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) and the Ghana Chamber of Commerce.

Mr Kenan Tepedelen, flanked by Nii Tettey Tsuri II, La Mantse and officials of GTFC cut the tape to unveil the wide range of products on display at the exhibition taking place at the Ghana International Trade Fair Centre (GTFC) which spans December 8- December 11. The fair is showcasing products like iron and steel products, mechanical appliances, electrical machinery and equipment. Other products include agricultural products, fertilisers, irrigation systems, disinfectants, household and kitchen products, building chemicals, diapers, detergents, cleaning products, milling machines, drilling machines and compressors. Mr Tepedelen said the fair was a follow up of intense diplomatic links between Ghana and Turkey and the signing of Memorandum of Understanding and other bilateral agreements to boost trade and investment. He said a high level business delegation comprising the Turkish Minister of Trade would visit Ghana to deepen trade and bilateral relations. Mr Tepedelen said the volume of trade between the two countries was about $175 million and expressed the hope that the trend could double in three years.

Mr Alper Cekic, Meridyen's Chief Executive Officer, said the exhibition would create a trade bridge between Ghana and Turkey. He lauded the openness of Ghanaian businessmen and the friendly Ghanaian community, which he said would lead to cultural and other exchanges between the two countries. Mr Nathaniel Quarcopoome of the AGI expressed the hope that the partnership between Ghana and Turkey would translate into mutual trade relations.

He asked the Turkish entrepreneurs to partner businesses in Ghana to manufacture products in the country to lead to job creation. Mr Ken Amoako Nuamah of the GIPC said Turkey had a good platform for the promotion of trade with Ghana. Turkish exports reached $115.3 billion in 2007 and has a target of $200 billion by 2013 and a total trade of at least $450 billion. Turkey's dynamic economy is a complex mix of modern industry and commerce along with a traditional agriculture sector that accounts for up to 34 per cent of employment. Straddling the continents of Europe and Asia, Turkey's strategic location has given it major influence in the region and control over the entrance to the Black Sea. With a rapidly growing private sector, Turkey is among the world's leading producers of agricultural products, textiles, motor vehicles, ships and other transportation equipment, construction materials, consumer electronics and home appliances.

The country has been a party to several international bilateral and multilateral agreements and has over the years been a member of organisations such as Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), World Trade Organisation, International Monetary Fund, World Bank and the Multinational International Guaranty Agency. Turkey is at the northeast end of the Mediterranean Sea in southeast Europe and southwest Asia and has the world's 15th largest GDP-Private Public Participation and the 17th largest Nominal GDP. The country is a founding member of the OECD and the G-20 major economies.