Caglayan praises Turquality program

The government-funded Turquality program renewed its pledge to promote Turkish business abroad at a meeting in Istanbul on Wednesday. During the meeting, Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan said that resources totaling 521.4 million Turkish Liras have been transferred to companies as part of both Turquality and the brand program. Stating that they have renewed the program, Caglayan said, “We have included gastronomy sector into the program as well,” adding that they have extended the five-year support program by two folds for the companies with high-level branding performance. Caglayan also said that the market diversification has provided $43.6 billion in four years.12 GUL ARRIVES IN TURKMENISTAN

President Abdullah Gul on Wednesday arrived in Turkmenistan on an official visit upon the invitation of his Turkmen counterpart Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov, where he was welcomed by Turkmen Foreign Minister Rashid Meredov, Education Minister Gulsad Mamedova, Turkmenistan’s Ambassador to Ankara Ata Serdarov and Turkey’s Ambassador to Ashkhabad Sevki Mutevellioglu and a great many Turkish citizens. Speaking at a press conference in Ankara’s Esenboga Airport before his departure from the capital city, Gul said that Foreign Minister Ahmed Davutoglu, Minister of Energy and Natural Resources Taner Yildiz and Minister of Science, Industry and Technology Nihat Ergun, as well as representatives from the business circles and press would accompany him in his visit. Stating that Turkey expects to sign many agreements with Turkmenistan to deepen comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, Gul said that he would be decorated with Turkmenistan State Medal during the visit as well as with an honorary "professor emeritus" title by The State Institute of Turkmenistan Economics and Public Administration.