Ambassador of the Republic of Türkiye to the State of Qatar, H E Dr. Mustafa Göksu, has said that Türkiye is cooperating with Qatar in contributing to the success of the 2022 FIFA World Cup.
“We are waiting for the World Cup to start in Qatar, and put all our capabilities at the service of our brothers to achieve an exceptional tournament,” he said.
He was talking to media persons on the anniversary of the July 15, 2016 failed coup attempt.
“We welcome the first World Cup to be held in an Islamic country, and we believe that this event, hosted by Qatar, will be successful and the tournament will enhance country’s position on the world sports map as a destination for major sporting events.”
He noted that Türkiye has experience in hosting international sporting events. “I would like to announce that we are ready to help in any way possible, and I am confident that Qatar will organise an exceptional tournament like never before.”
The Ambassador added, “President H E Recep Tayyip Erdogan gave us the green light to put all our efforts and capabilities in the service of the success of this event. Türkiye is cooperating with Qatar in contributing to the success of the World Cup through cooperation in the security field and organising major events.”
Mustafa Göksu, also called on Qatari tourists to visit Türkiye, their “second home”, and enjoy the charming nature.
He pointed out that tourists can spend happy times in Türkiye, where they will find charming nature, modern culture, historical depth and tourism diversity.
“The city of Istanbul, which includes the Bosporus, the Hagia Sophia mosque and many Roman and Ottoman palaces, is a great place for tourism”, he said, adding, “Qatari tourists to visit Turkish tourist cities and states in various Turkish regions and cities.”
The Turkish Ambassador stressed the great leap achieved by his country in the field of tourism of all kinds, noting that “tourism revenues in Turkey recorded an increase of 122.4%, during the first quarter of 2022, compared to the same period last year”.
On the economic situation in his country, Mustafa Göksu said: “The performance of the Turkish economy appeared in a strong manner with the lifting of restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the national income grew by 21.7% in the second quarter of this year.”
“Türkiye has become the second country with the highest growth rate in the world after the United Kingdom. The main indicators show that Turkish economic activity continued to maintain its strength in the third quarter of this year, supported by strong foreign demand,” he added.
“Recently, investment and employment trends in Turkish companies have reached very high levels compared to previous years, and it is noted that employment in companies continues to improve during the third quarter of this year,” he added.
Talking on development in the defence industries, the Ambassador said that the Turkish defence industries have strengthened the capacity of the Turkish army and security forces with many local weapons and equipment during 2021.
He said: “Within the framework of the efforts exerted in the field of aerospace industries, the two attack drones ‘Akıncı’ and ‘AKSUNGUR’ have officially entered service in our Air Force. Also, more drones from ‘Bayraktar TB2’, ‘ANKA’ and ‘Kargo’ were delivered to the various branches of our military and security services.”
He continued, “The third prototype of the domestic helicopter ‘Gökbey’ has successfully completed its first flight test, while the delivery of the second stage of the ‘Atak’ attack helicopter continues. The Turkish defense industries handed over to the Naval Forces Command 3 ‘P-72’ patrol aircraft in the framework of the ‘MELTEM III’ project.”
He said Turkish-Qatari joint projects in the field of military, security and defense industry constitute an important aspect of bilateral relations of two countries. “Currently biggest Turkish defense companies, ASELSAN, Baykar, Havelsan, Meteksan, Tusaş and others have representatives in Qatar.”
The Ambassador noted that Türkiye is a country that hosts the largest number of displaced persons in the world. “4 million displaces persons, including 3.7 million Syrians, who were forced to flee from the devastation in their own country are under the temporary protection of Turkish State.”
He pointed out that Turkey has spent about $40bn on the Syrians since 2011 in order to provide all kinds of service and assistance. On the other hand,
Turkey supports the dignified voluntary return of Syrians to Syria, and thanks to our efforts, hundreds of thousands of Syrians were able to return to their homes.”
Ambassador Göksu said, “Recently, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announced a government plan that is being prepared to establish a safe zone inside Syria in order to return one million Syrians to their country, a plan that Ankara has been putting forward since 2012.”
He explained, “The plan includes the return of displaced persons ‘voluntarily’ to the areas under Turkish security control in northern Syria, through the establishment of residential units, the preparation of infrastructure, and the establishment of 250 thousand housing units, in 13 regions in northern Syria.”
On the issue of gas and energy, Ambassador Göksu noted: “In his latest statement on gas discoveries, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan revealed that Türkiye will start in the first quarter of 2023 to pump 10 million cubic meters per day of natural gas discovered in the Black Sea”.
He stressed that Türkiye sees energy as a key to regional cooperation and not as a field for tension and conflict. “Therefore, Türkiye is working on equitable distribution of the wealth of the eastern Mediterranean among all the basin countries after demarcating the maritime borders by taking into account the rights of Turkish Cypriots as well.”
The Turkish Ambassador also referred to the ‘Istanbul Financial Center’, which plays an important role in the field of financing at the regional and international levels, and the Gulf countries intend to participate in the center, which has been completed by 81% and is expected to start leasing in a short time.
“The center is planned to generate an income of $250bn, as well as an added value that will be injected into the Turkish economy in a sustainable manner, whose total value is expected to reach more than $160bn after 15 years of operation.”
On the automotive sector in Türkiye, Göksu said: “The sector’s products were exported to 193 countries in the five continents, with a total value of over $29bn during 2021, which enabled this sector to occupy the first place in Türkiye’s exports, which has become the fourteenth largest car manufacturer in the world.”