Turkish business body opens UK branch

LONDON

Turkey’s Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MUSIAD) opened its U.K. branch with a ceremony in capital London on Saturday.

MUSIAD Director General Abdurrahman Kaan told Anadolu Agency that they decided to open a branch of MUSIAD -- leading Turkish business organization globally operating with 181 branches across 68 countries -- in the U.K. as they foresee better relations between Turkey and the U.K. as it is leaving the EU.

“The U.K. is one of the countries with the highest levels of investment in Turkey. There are almost 2,900 companies with British capital that have invested in Turkey. The total of investment is about $9.6 billion. The level of investments from Turkey in the U.K. is about $2 billion.”

Drawing attention to Turkish food giant Ulker’s investment in the U.K. via Pladis company, Kaan said the investment held a significant place in Turkey-U.K. relations.

“We have around 10,000 members and we aim to do bigger and more constructive businesses in the U.K.,” Kaan said.

Kaan said MUSIAD also has an active role in the EU.

He added: “We have branches in Germany, France, Austria, Belgium, and the Netherlands. We carry out our lobbying activities and try to bring the business circles together. We aim to accelerate these processes.”

Turkey’s London Ambassador Abdurrahman Bilgic, Justice and Development (AK) Party Istanbul MP Ahmet Camli and MUSIAD UK president Ugur Yilmaz were also present at the opening ceremony.

*Reporting by Tayfun Salci; Writing by Ahmet Gurhan Kartal