Türkiye and Greece aim for $10 billion trade volume
The Türkiye–Greece Business Forum took place at the Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (İTO) in cooperation with the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry. The event was attended by Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Mehmet Kemal Bozay and Greek Deputy Foreign Minister for Economic Diplomacy Tasos Chatzivasileiou.
Tourism and Logistics in Focus
İTO Board Chairman Şekib Avdagiç opened the forum, emphasizing the close historical, cultural, and economic ties between Turkey and Greece. Avdagiç noted, “Türkiye and our neighbor Greece, which serves as Europe’s gateway and a bridge between Asia and Europe, currently have a trade volume of approximately $6 billion. Health, environment, culture, arts, and tourism are key sectors for cooperation. In 2024, 710 Greek tourists visited Turkey, while 1.5 million Turks traveled to Greece, boosted by eased visa regulations. We can increase joint initiatives in tourism. Another important sector for cooperation is transportation. Since the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Europe’s trade and logistics dynamics have shifted. Istanbul is a key hub, but we face challenges due to transit permit quotas. This forum provides an important opportunity to address these issues and explore future prospects.”
Constructive Dialogue
Deputy Foreign Minister Mehmet Kemal Bozay highlighted the benefits of cooperation between Turkey and Greece for both countries and the region. Recalling President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s 2023 visit to Greece and meeting with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Bozay stressed the importance of high-level meetings and dialogues to initiate a new engagement supported by a positive agenda.
Bozay noted the commitment to strengthening economic relations and supporting cooperation across various sectors, pointing out the leaders’ joint target of a $10 billion trade volume. He expressed hope that the meeting would serve as a catalyst for stronger ties among businesspeople, adding, “Türkiye is determined to strengthen its ties with Greece through constructive dialogue and cooperation.”
Good Neighborly Relations
Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Tasos Chatzivasileiou stated that Greek and Turkish businesspeople share a historical background based on common needs. He emphasized the opportunity to strengthen commercial ties based on good neighborly relations and respect for international law.
Energy Cooperation Opportunities
Chatzivasileiou underlined the vital role of business communities and associations in increasing trade volume and boosting investment. He also highlighted the critical role of energy cooperation in enhancing regional security amid a turbulent environment. “Cooperation in the energy sector will also contribute to regional stability,” he said.
Investment in Transformation
Sofia Kounenaki Efraimoglou, First Vice President of the Athens Chamber of Commerce and Industry, emphasized investments in green and digital transformation during her speech.
Following the forum, bilateral business meetings were held, with participants including Greece’s Ambassador to Ankara Theodoros Bizakis, Greek Consul General in Istanbul Konstantinos Koutras, and İTO Board Members Bahadır Yaşık, Giyasettin Eyyüpkoca, Murat Hazıroğlu, Münir Üstün, Salih Sami Atılgan, and İTO Secretary General Prof. Dr. Nihat Alayoğlu.
200 Bilateral Meetings Across Six Sectors
As part of the forum, nearly 200 bilateral meetings took place between 11 Greek firms and over 130 Turkish companies in the sectors of transportation, tourism, food, energy, IT, and automotive spare parts. These meetings provided a platform for businesspeople from both countries to establish direct contacts and explore potential partnerships.
