Strengthening economic and trade cooperation was discussed with the delegation led by the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Istanbul Chamber of Industry. The delegation familiarized itself with our country's favorable business environment.
Minister of Economy Mikayil Jabbarov met with the delegation led by Erdal Bahçıvan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO).
The Minister of Economy emphasized the importance of the political will of the heads of state of Azerbaijan and Turkey, and the implementation of their instructions in strengthening mutual relations. It was noted that Turkey is one of Azerbaijan's main trade partners, and the Preferential Trade Agreement signed between the two countries opens up additional opportunities for strengthening economic and trade cooperation. Successful investment partnerships are being implemented between the fraternal countries. Large-scale projects carried out with the participation of our countries not only deepen regional cooperation but also change the landscape of the region.
During the discussions held at the meeting, the importance of actively promoting cooperation between ISO member companies and local business entities, diversifying cooperation in investment, implementation of potential projects, energy, trade, industry, digital technologies, infrastructure, and other fields was emphasized. It was brought to attention that developing strategic partnerships that strengthen the production and export potential of our countries on a global scale is one of the main priorities of our business partnership.
Approximately 100 businesspeople visiting our country, organized by Azerbaijan's trade representation in Turkey and the Istanbul Chamber of Industry, were informed about Azerbaijan's economic potential, favorable business environment, concessions applied for entrepreneurs, and opportunities created for investors in the Alat Free Economic Zone. The guests also familiarized themselves with the activities of enterprises in Sumgayit Industrial Park and cooperation opportunities in industrial zones.
It should be noted that ISO, established in 1952, is Turkey's largest industrial organization. Headquartered in Istanbul, ISO's main tasks are to protect and represent the interests of industrial enterprises, support industrial development, strengthen local and international cooperation in this field, and provide training, consultancy, and foreign trade support to member companies. Currently, ISO has nearly 24,000 members, including companies operating in textile, machinery and equipment, chemical, food, and other sectors.