Consul General of Greece in Izmir: We will prioritise commercial visas

Hüseyin Cengiz, Board of Directors of Izmir Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (IZSİAD), visited the Consul General of Greece in Izmir, Alexander Konstas, in his office.

Hüseyin Cengiz, Chairman of İZSİAD Board of Directors, said that the recent problems with the Schengen visa have reached a level that will disrupt the bilateral business relations between Europe and Türkiye and expressed that they expect support from Greece in terms of visa facilitation for business people.

Stating that they also want to increase the trade volume between the two countries, Cengiz noted that they expect support for the business people of the two countries to come together in this regard.

"WE WILL GIVE PRIORITY TO COMMERCIAL VISA APPLICATIONS"
Greek Consul General of Izmir Aleksandros Konstas expressed his satisfaction with the visit made by İZSİAD and shared information about visa applications between the two countries.

Stating that they are disturbed by the malicious approach of the intermediary companies and the use of the Greek visa as a means of transport to other countries, the Consul General stated that they help everyone whose real purpose is holiday and business.

In addition, Consul General Konstas said that they will prioritise commercial visa applications from Izmir's business community in order to increase the commercial relations and trade volume between the two countries. "The most common situation in which we reject visa applications is when the visa applicant actually gets a visa to go to another country, goes to Chios or another location for a day and then makes a longer trip to another country. In that case, we take this into consideration in the second visa application."

PROMISE TO BRING BUSINESS PEOPLE TOGETHER
Konstas advised people to obtain a visa from the consulate of the country they are going to, and emphasised that İZSİAD members can help with visas for business trips if they apply with a reference letter sent by İZSİAD by writing the urgency of the situation and the company to be interviewed. Konstas added that he is ready to provide all kinds of support in increasing the mutual trade volume by bringing together the business people of the two countries and that he would like to pay a return visit to İZSİAD and meet with the members as soon as possible.