Turkey, India set to start construction sector partnership

A top official from the Turkish-Indian Business Council said yesterday that Turkey and India would start a remarkable partnership in the construction sector in the coming months. Erdal Alkis, vice chair of the Turkish-Indian Business Council of the Turkish Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK), told a group of Indian businessmen in Istanbul that by-year's end, the two countries would sign separate construction sector deals worth $1 billion and $7 billion. Alkis said the agreements would kick start a remarkable bilateral partnership. Alkis also said that the council works to improve commercial, cultural and social ties between Turkey and India. "Our goal for the next 5 years is to bring 500,000 Indian tourists to Turkey, to reach a trade volume of $30 billion, and to provide for 1 million visas being issued to citizens of both countries," Alkis said.