Govt urges Turkish business not to miss out on opportunities in Vietnam

Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc yesterday urged Turkish businesspeople to invest in Vietnam, whose trade volume with Turkey neared $1 billion last year, despite the distance between the two nations. Speaking at the Turkey-Vietnam Trade and Investment Forum organized by the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON) in Hanoi, Arinc pointed to how Turkey's trade with Vietnam ballooned from $100 million in 2002 to $857 million in 2010, but underlined that this amount still falls short. "Turkey wants to improve its ties with Vietnam in all areas," he added. "We have a powerful friendship group in Parliament. We'll also appoint a trade counselor to our embassy in Hanoi … We should both take initiatives targeting our businessmen, which Turkey is ready to do." Also speaking at the event, Vietnamese Deputy Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh Minister said he believes the forum will help boost Turkish-Vietnamese economic ties.