The Turkey-Italy Business Forum, an important event aimed at promoting economic cooperation between the two countries, was held in Istanbul last December.
Attended by numerous Italian and Turkish business leaders, the event also involved major international decision-makers, including the Italian prime minister Matteo Renzi and his Turkish counterpart Ahmet Davutoglu.
A leading exponent of the constructive partnership between Italy and Turkey, Zeynep Bodur Okyay, President of Kale Group and of the Turkey-Italy Business Council, took part in the event in her capacity as a member of the DEIK Foreign Economic Relations Board and a key player in the development of relations between the two countries.
In the course of 55 years in business, Kale Group has forged solid commercial relations with Italy, and promoted an innovative, global business culture. Zeynep Bodur Okyay explained: "Various Turkish enterprises have acquired Italian companies in recent years, with a view to boosting business on the strength of Italy's worldwide manufacturing reputation. In parallel with these developments, Italian companies have been attracted by the entrepreneurial prowess and talent of Turkish companies. This has given rise to fruitful and highly strategic long-term partnerships."
The past five years have seen a substantial increase in trade between the two countries, which has risen from 13 billion dollars in 2009 to 20 billion in 2014.
Pictured: DEIK Italian (Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey): Ömer Cihad Vardan (President of the Foreign Economic Relations Board), Matteo Renzi (Italy's Prime Minister), Ahmet Davutoglu (Turkey's Prime Minister), Zeynep Bodur Okyay (Member of the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey and President of the Turkey-Italy Business Council).
