PH Embassy in Ankara Promotes Trade, Investment, Tourism Relations, Underscore 70 Years of Philippine-Turkey Bilateral Relations
Ambassador-designate to Turkey Raul S. Hernandez gives a Philippine token to Istanbul Chamber of Industry President Mr. Erdal Bahçivan. (Ankara PE photo)
ANKARA 02 July 2019 – Ambassador-designate to Turkey Raul S. Hernandez met with high-level representatives of OTOKAR, Elginkan and the Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO) on 19 June 2019 in Istanbul as part of the Philippine Embassy in Ankara’s trade and investment promotion efforts and to highlight 70 years of Philippines-Turkey diplomatic relations.
Ambassador-designate Hernandez and OTOKAR General Manager Serdar Görgüç discussed OTOKAR’s existing tenders to supply the Philippine Armed Forces with defense capabilities as part of the Philippine Armed Forces Modernization Program. OTOKAR’s interests in the Philippines extend beyond defense, as it is also looking into the possibility of investing in an automotive production facility to assemble public utility vehicles in the Philippines to support the Philippine government’s Public Utility Vehicle Modernization Program.
The Ambassador-designate also held a meeting with Elginkan Chairman Gaye Akçen. Elginkan’s ceramic sanitary ware line – Serel – has been selected to fit-out the New Clark City Sports Complex for use in the upcoming Southeast Asian Games. Ambassador-designate Hernandez encouraged Chairman Akçen to formally launch its product line in the Philippines to help generate brand awareness and highlight Philippines-Turkey 70 years of bilateral relations. The two officials also discussed Elginkan’s plans to set up a manufacturing facility in the Philippines and use this as its hub for the Southeast Asian markets.
Ambassador-designate Hernandez and Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO) President Erdal Bahçıvan agreed on the need to harness the potential for more expansive trade and investments between the two countries and launch projects to underscore 70 years of bilateral relations. Among the projects discussed are featuring an article on the Philippines in ISO’s magazine, holding Philippine Country Days which include a presentation on the Philippines, speeches, testimonials and an open forum, followed by the sending of a trade and investment mission to the Philippines.
Beforehand, Ambassador-designate Hernandez also met with high-level representatives of Turkish Airlines and the Association of Turkish Travel Agencies (TURSAB) on 18 June 2019 in Istanbul, as part of the Embassy’s tourism promotion efforts.
The Ambassador-designate and Turkish Airlines Chief Executive Officer Bilal Ekşi discussed positive developments in two-way tourism evidenced by the year-on-year growth in tourist arrivals from Turkey to the Philippines and vice versa.
As part of efforts to promote the 70 years of diplomatic ties between the Philippines and Turkey, Ambassador-designate Hernandez requested Turkish Airlines to feature more Philippine tourist destinations in its in-flight magazine and on-board entertainment, which was readily welcomed. Likewise, Turkish Airlines requested the Embassy’s assistance in their plan to increase flight frequency to the Philippines given the increasing need for passenger capacity and possible increase in cargo loads.
Turkish Airlines is the only European commercial carrier that flies direct from Manila to Europe via its daily flights to Istanbul.
The Ambassador-designate also met with TURSAB Board Member Ali Bilir and TURSAB Secretary General Melike Ertekin to explore ways to boost people-to-people linkages between the Philippines and Turkey. He proposed featuring Philippine tourist destinations in TURSAB’s magazine and invited their members to participate in important tourism fairs and exhibitions and organization of familiarization and media tours by the Philippines. TURSAB also offered to mount a photo exhibition of popular tourist attractions in the Philippines in its office spaces and events to generate awareness of the Philippines among the Turkish public. END
Ambassador-designate Hernandez (left) and OTOKAR General Manager Serdar Görgüç. (Ankara PE photo)
Ambassador-designate to Turkey Raul S. Hernandez (left) receives a Turkish Airlines replica aircraft from Chief Executive Officer Bilal Ekşi. (Ankara PE photo)
For more information, visit https://www.ankarape.dfa.gov.ph or https://www.facebook.com/PHinTurkey/.