Member Article

Nick Clegg heads trade mission to Turkey

British businesses have embarked on a trade mission to Turkey headed by Deputy Prime Minister, Nick Clegg.

Deals between Britain and Turkey will be announced today as a result of the business delegation, which hopes to create a strong foothold for UK businesses in Turkey, and establish strong relationships between the two countries.

A series of fruitful contracts, including job creation in Cardiff, will be brought to the UK through the diplomatic visit.

A £7m manufacturing site will be opened in the Welsh capital by Turkish firm, HDM Steel Pipe, and 38 jobs will be created in operations, administration, planning and logistics.

Concept Steels, based in the West Midlands,confirmed a contract with Turkey-based Vastas A.S. for an estimated £5m to export metal components for fuel industries.

Turkish hospital group, Florence Nightingale, will set up its headquarters in London with a £100,000 investment, while management and construction consultancy, Hill International, will open a regional office in Turkey this November.

Mr Clegg commented on the trade mission, and said the Government hopes to double bilateral trade by 2015.

He said: “My main aim this week is to ensure that more UK firms can capitalise on the economic opportunities Turkey offers.

“It’s fantastic to be announcing new jobs for the UK and such an impressive set of deals for British businesses.

“(Trade) has increased by 40 per cent since 2009 so we are making good progress towards the target, and this visit will bring us even closer.”

Turkey is currently the fastest growing economy in Europe, and the sixteenth largest in the world.

The Government aims to increase exports to the country to $170bn (£105bn) by 2015, and hopes to improve this to $500bn (£310bn) before 2023.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Miranda Dobson .