Turkey’s business body opens new branch in Kuwait

By Jeyhun Aliyev

ANKARA

Independent Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (MUSIAD) opened its representative office in Kuwait, it announced on Friday.

The total number of MUSIAD’s contact points have reached 208 in 78 countries.

Ibrahim Uyar, head of MUSIAD's foreign organization and development commission, said that there are many investors in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region who want to invest in Turkey.

"The biggest investment in our country is made by MENA region," he said.

Uyar noted that MUSIAD's main goal is to support the businesspeople of MENA with the necessary work at the point of investment in Turkey.

He also said that the business affairs of Kuwait and Turkey have a great potential, adding that he believes the trade volume between the countries will shortly reach $1 billion.

Last year, Turkey's exports to Kuwait totaled around $440 million while the country's imports from Kuwait were $169.4 million, according to Turkish Statistical Institute (TurkStat) data.

"Our main agenda is the development of commercial diplomacy," Uyar stressed.

He said they aim to open representative offices in 100 countries by the end of 2018 and to make efforts to meet the country’s export target.

Cuneyt Mucedidi -- MUSIAD's newly-appointed Kuwait representative -- said the association, as a first step, will pay a visit to the representatives of the business community and chamber of commerce in the country.

MUSIAD has announced earlier that it opened its branch in Zambia.