TOKYO
Turkish Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan on Thursday said that the way to overcome the global crisis was global cooperation.
Speaking at the Turkish-Japanese Business Forum in Tokyo on Thursday, Caglayan said that "Japan was located in the most eastern part of Asia while Turkey was located in the most western part of Asia. There may be a large physical distance between our two countries. However, I do know that the distance between the hearts of the Turkish and Japanese peoples are very close to each other".
"The memorandum of understanding we will sign today with Japanese Foreign Minister Koichiro Gemba and Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry Yukio Edano will for the first time make Turkish-Japanese commercial and economic relations formal. The MoU carries historic importance for commercial and economic relations," Caglayan noted.
"I want the Japanese investors to change their perspective on Turkey as a country which is a symbol of prosperity and peace in its region. Do not look at Turkey as merely a country with economic development. Do not look at Turkey as a country in which the average age is 29 and the total population is 75 million. When you look at Turkey, I want the Japanese businesspeople to see that there are 56 countries around Turkey which could be reached in only four hours," Caglayan stated.
"I want the Japanese investors to discover the new incentive system in Turkey. We have prepared the world's most assertive and generous incentive system. The incentive system is ready to be used by both national and international investors," Caglayan also said.
Also speaking at the forum, Japanese Deputy Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Keiro Kitagami said that Turkey was related both to Europe and Asia with its civilization and geography.
Japanese companies have very little relations with Turkey and we must work on developing Japanese companies' relations with Turkey, Kitagami stressed.
Turkey & Japan sign MoU on economic cooperation
Turkish Minister of Economy, Zafer Caglayan, Japanese Minister of Foreign Affairs, Koichiro Gemba, and Japanese Minister of Economy, Industry and Trade, Yukio Edano, on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding on economic cooperation between Turkey and Japan in Tokyo.
Speaking at the penning ceremony, Minister Caglayan said that the two countries shared deep friendship and helped each other during the earthquakes in Van and Japan.
Expressing his sadness for those Japanese who lost lives in recent floods in southern Japan, Caglayan said that Japanese citizen Atsushi Miyazaki who lost his life in an earthquake in eastern province of Van was the martyr of both countries.
Minister Gemba said that he was pleased to meet Caglayan again after his visit to Turkey in January.
Minister Edano stressed that Turkey had an important position between Europe and Asia and had a very young population.
We wish to boost our economic relations with Turkey, Edano underlined.
While Caglayan's meeting with the two ministers continued behind doors, a group of anti-nuclear activists held a rally outside of the ministry.
