PHL Embassy in Ankara Attends the 4th Ambassadors Gathering Hosted by the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM)
Ambassadors with Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Şimşek, Gaziantep's Mayor, Fatma Şahin, Governor Ali Yerlikaya and TIM President Mehmet Büyükekşi at the Ambassadors Breakfast Forum on 17 September 2017. (Photo credits: TIM website http://www.tim.org.tr/en/press-room-news-4th-tim-ambassadors-gathering-has-been-organized-in-gaziantep.html)
22 September 2017 ANKARA - The Philippine Embassy in Ankara attended the 4th Ambassadors Gathering organized by the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM) from September 15 to 17 in Gaziantep, Turkey. The Ambassadors Gathering is held every year to promote international collaboration and boost trade relations through networking opportunities. It is also an opportunity to showcase the history and culture of Turkey’s cities.
The delegations were given tours of the Mosaic Museum in Zeugma, the Archaeology Museum and the Cultural Road; and were hosted to a gala dinner at the historical Hişvahan restaurant and a picnic lunch at the Dülükbaba lakeside. The delegations were also given a boat tour of the historic Euphrates River.
A Breakfast Forum for Ambassadors was held on September 17. TIM President Mehmet Büyükekşi delivered the opening speech and underscored the role of the Heads of Missions, saying that the “Excellencies are important partners to help increase trade.”
Gaziantep's Mayor, Fatma Şahin, delivered a presentation on Gaziantep’s historical and cultural sites, its designation as a UNESCO Creative City for culinary arts as well as updates on the Syrian refugee crisis. Gaziantep currently hosts 400,000 of the more than 3 million Syrian refugees in Turkey and the local government is focusing on providing education for Syrian refugees below 18 years of age.
In his remarks, Governor Ali Yerlikaya said that 18% of Gaziantep’s population is composed of refugees from Syria and greater trade linkages between Turkey and the countries represented in the Forum is vital in creating an environment that is conducive for the sustainability of peace.
Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Şimşek delivered the final presentation which focused on Turkey’s economy, its current policies and long-term projections. DPM Şimşek said that after a shaky 2016, growth has recovered to reach 5% with the aim of reaching 5.5% by the end of the year. Deputy Prime Minister Şimşek also highlighted improvements in the sectors of tourism, employment, foreign investments, research and development and innovation.
Philippine Ambassador to Turkey Maria Rowena Mendoza Sanchez spoke on behalf of the ASEAN Heads of Missions as Chair of the ASEAN Ankara Committee (AAC) and expressed the AAC’s appreciation for the hospitality and arrangements that TIM and the local government of Gaziantep have made throughout the event. Ambassador Sanchez said that ASEAN is a dynamic, highly-competitive and attractive economic region with a consumer market of 630 million and a combined GDP of USD2.4 trillion which makes it the 6th largest in the world. Ambassador Sanchez welcomed Turkey as ASEAN’s newest sectoral dialogue partner with strong ties already established in the political, economic and socio-cultural fields and welcomed even greater cooperation in the areas of tourism, investments and SMEs. END
For more information, visit www.ankarape.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinTurkey.