Turkish businessmen are trying to establish a Turkish lobby in European countries in an attempt to further boost the country’s economy, the Turkish daily The New Anatolian reported.
The businessmen are carrying out economic and cultural cooperation ventures together with European mayors, politicians and businessmen, especially in Germany, Belgium and Poland, chairman of the European-Turkish Business Council, Aziz Sahin, said Wednesday at a press conference.
"We have helped several Turkish municipalities sign agreements with European municipalities to become sister towns, and tried to create new business opportunities in these countries, especially in Poland as it is the shining star of the European Union. We aim at improved relations between Turkey and Poland," Sahin said.
According to Sahin, 112,000 Turkish businessmen are spread across Europe, representing a significant economic power with €35 billion of annual turnover.
The businessmen’s plan is expected to win the support of Turkey’s new foreign minister, Ali Babacan, who is replacing Abdallah Gul.
Babacan, who served as the minister of economy under the previous government, has helped lift the Turkish economy out of recession and is a strong advocate of Turkey’s European Union bid. His economic reforms, which were backed by the International Monetary Fund, helped Turkey emerge from an economic crisis and attain an average annual growth of seven percent.