By Furkan Bhat, IndiaTomorrow.net,
New Delhi, 11 March 2015: In order to boost trade between Turkey and India, the Turkish Indian-Chambers of Commerce and Industry (TICCI), a new trade association, organised an event at Lalit Hotel here in New Delhi Tuesday evening.
The aim to lunch TICCI is to promote commercial links between India and Turkey by creating more networking and collaboration opportunities. The TICCI, an affiliate of the Turkish business confederation TUSKON, has offices in Bangalore, Chennai, New Delhi, Hyderabad, Kolkata and Mumbai. The main objective of TICCI is to develop bilateral relations, trade and facilitate contacts for exports, joint ventures and alliances.
While speaking at the launching event, TICCI president Ersin Karaoglan said the group will also promote the “Make in India” campaign to attract Turkish companies to invest in Indian manufacturing.
“Our aim is to improve trade, tourism and relations between the two countries”, he said.
He further said, “Infrastructure, tourism and automotive parts business are some of the key ventures that hold potential for joint endeavour between Turkish and Indian companies.”
Quoting the famous Persian Poet Maulana Rumi, Swami Agnivesh, Arya Samaj president also spoke on the essence of the Turkish culture and its beauty.
“Rumi, a famous sufi poet, spoke on the peace and harmony and I wish this message is practically implemented throughout to bring peace in the world”, he said.
The event was attended by a number of prominent business personalities. They included Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI) president Jyotsna Suri, PHD Chamber of Commerce and Industry president Alok B. Shriram, Associated Chambers of Commerce and Industry of India (Assocham) secretary general D.S. Rawat, former Indian ambassador to Kazakhstan and National Foundation for Communal Harmony secretary Ashok Sajjanhar, Arya Samaj president Swami Agnivesh, UN Information Center director Kiran Mehra, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Vijay Jolly, and TICCI vice president Mehmet Ali Seker.
The jam packed hall was overjoyed with the whirling dervish music. The guests present in the event were overwhelmed by the performance by whirling dervish dancers from Turkey. The value of commerce between the two countries was about $6 billion in 2014, with the balance of trade in India’s favour.
While stressing the need to invest more, Jyotsna Suri said, “Turkish and Indian business people should explore more investment opportunities in each other’s countries. This can be boosted through joint efforts by the both countries”.
More than 150 Indian companies have registered businesses in Turkey in the form of joint ventures, trade and representative offices. These include Polyplex, GMR Infrastructure, Tata Motors, Mahindra & Mahindra, Reliance, Ispat, Aditya Birla Group, Tractors and Farm Equipment Ltd, Jain Irrigation, Wipro and Dabur. Turkish companies having presence in India include, Fernas, Sarar, Limak Construction, Soktas and Izopoli-Kingspan, and Hidromas.
