The Minister for the Economy, Investment and Small Business Chris Cardona has today continued with his official visit in Izmir, Turkey, with a meeting with Mr Ekrem Demirtaş, Chairman of the İzmir Chamber of Commerce and a separate meeting with Mr Ender Yorgancilar, Chairman of the Aegean Region Chamber of Industry.
At these meetings Minister Cardona spoke about the visit to Turkey which will soon be taking place by a trade delegation composed of Maltese entrepreneurs and representatives from Malta Enterprise, Trade Malta, The Chamber of Commerce, the newly set up Malta Turkish Business Council, Finance Malta and Transport Malta.
Dr Cardona also spoke about the strong diplomatic ties between the two countries which date back to 1967. The setting up in 2009 of the Malta Consulate General in Istanbul and the appointment of a Maltese Ambassador to Turkey in 2014 provides a solid framework for continued progress in all areas, particularly in the bilateral trade and economic spheres, as well as tourism.
Minister Cardona spoke with Mr Ekrem Demirtas about the possibility of having a Maltese student offered a scholarship to follow a course at the Izmir University of Economics. During this meeting Minister Cardona invited the Chamber of Commerce of Izmir and its members to visit Malta and explore the commercial and investment opportunities that exist in our country.
These meetings follow another meeting which was held with the Minister for the Economy of Turkey, Nihat Zeybecki, where an agreement for the creation of a bilateral commission between Malta and Turkey on the Economy and Commerce was signed, which agreement was signed in the city of Izmir where an international fair is currently being held.
The Permanent Secretary for the Ministry for the Economy, Investment and Small Business, Ms Nancy Caruana, Malta’s Ambassador to the Republic of Turkey, Ambassador Fiona Formosa, Honorary Consul of Malta in Izmir, Turkey, Dr Ahmet Calik, Ms Fiona Formosa and Malta Enterprise advisor, Ms Philo Meli were present for the meetings.