PanARMENIAN.Net

Noyan Soyak: Armenia and Turkey can launch a joint wine production
13.09.2008 14:35 GMT+04:00

/PanARMENIAN.Net/ As tensions between Turkey and Armenia have been
slightly reduced as a result of football game between the two
countries, businessmen are feeling encouraged to participate in joint
projects, Referans Turkish newspaper reports.

`The Turkey-Armenia match has given us hope. Production projects have
gathered pace. Some day, it may be possible to establish a joint
facility,’ said Noyan Soyak, co-chairman of the Turkish-Armenian
Business Development Council.

Businessmen, who have used indirect means to continue trading with
Armenia despite an embargo imposed since 1993, started to display
their partnership-based projects more bravely after the soccer
game. Believing that a more comfortable environment for business
affairs may now come about, businessmen have made a decision to launch
a joint wine production.

Turkish, Armenian and Georgian businessmen had already launched a
collective cheese production last year under the leadership of the
Turkish-Armenian Business Development Council.

The historic World Cup playoff has begun a new period for the project,
said Ilhan Koculu, a businessman from Turkey’s northeastern city of
Kars. `We were very nervous during the first months following the
launch of the project. The meeting of the two countries’ president has
relieved us. We will continue our partnership, which started with
cheese, with wine now.’

The trade volume between Turkey and Armenia is approximately $150
million. Almost all of this trade goes through Georgia. Turkey
accounts for over 90 percent of the $150 million trade.

Turkish companies export textiles, construction materials, food
products and durable consumer goods to Armenia. Should the border be
opened, the trade between the two countries is expected to reach $400
million in six months.