French firms part of Turkey, president says

French companies operating in Turkey have become a part of the country, Turkish President Abdullah Gul said yesterday. Gul received the president of the French Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI France) Andre Marcon and his accompanying delegation in the capital city of Ankara, according to a statement posted on the website of the Turkish presidency. Rifat Hisarciklioglu, the president of the Union of Chamber and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), was also present at the meeting. Gul said he supported French companies' activities in Turkey and underlined the importance of economic cooperation between Turkey and France, saying both countries had deep-rooted and multidimensional relations. Marcon said his visit would contribute to the future of economic relations between the two countries and that the commerce chambers of both Turkey and France had started to develop joint projects. Noting that French companies supported Turkey's bid for full European Union membership, he said the reasons underlying the great interest that the French business world showed Turkey were concrete, such as political stability, a young population and a significant market in the country. CCI France has established a productive relationship with TOBB, he added.