France seeks to renew ties
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
Turkish Daily News
Feb 19 2008
French Secretary of State for External Commerce, Herve Novelli,
visited Turkey this week in an effort to revive economic ties between
the two countries, or at least express his government’s good will
for trade relations, despite recent tensions over Turkey’s European
Union candidature and France’s persistence over recognition of the
"Armenian Genocide." Novelli ws in Istanbul on Monday, Ankara today,
and Mersin tomorrow accompanied by a delegation of French entrepreneurs
representing 41 companies of which 17 are small and medium enterprises
(SMEs). The visit comes as the minister’s attempt to encourage
French businesses to invest in Turkey, both geographically close
and emerging. "Exchanges like these comfort me and confirm that
our relations hold a lot of opportunities despite some ‘clouds’
in our bilateral history," said Novelli in Istanbul on Monday at
a luncheon organized by the French Chamber of Commerce in Turkey,
attended by the French Ambassador of France in Turkey, Bernard Emie
and nearly 180 representatives of the French and Turkish business
communities. "It is when things are delicate that we have to illustrate
our persistence in these ties…. We have important debates that are
valuable and important.
The hope of Turkey to enter the EU is strong and deems respect. The
view that Turkey could have a privileged relationship with the
EU should not be discredited. The two countries should renew their
relations," he said. On Monday, commenting on the French parliamentary
move to recognize the "Armenian genocide" as such, Novelli said,
it is not the place of parliament to decide what took place in
history. The minister vowed to help French companies invest in Turkey,
and invited the Ambassador of France to Turkey to organize a delegation
of Turkish businessmen who would like to learn more of the investment
opportunities available in France. "I propose that we intensify our
economic ties and define a concrete plan of action that involves more
exchanges between Turkish and French businessmen," he said. "Despite
our political differences, there is a will to work together… I’m
for amelioration and acceleration of our work together." French
exports to Turkey in 2007 reached 5,100 million euros. France is
Turkey’s 6th largest importer and third foreign investor. Nearly 260
French entreprises are established in Turkey, compared to the 15 in
1885. Turkey is a major supplier to the French market and holds 4,750
million euros making it France’s 7th largest supplier after China,
the United States, Russia, Japan, Switzerland, and Norway.
An amusement park in Gaziantep
Last week the Municipality of Gaziantep and French amusement park
building company Loftus signed a contract for Turkey’s first ever
amusement park. The project is worth an estimated 10 million euros
and will be complete in January 2009, Yann Tranlong, chairman and CEO
of Loftus told the Turkish Daily News on Monday. "It’s a region that
needs something like this," said Tranlong. "We couldn’t have done it
were it not for the committment, openness and professionalism we saw
on the part of the city of Gaziantep," he said.