P.A. Turkey

Erdogan to visit UAE to boost economic investments

Reports said last week that Turkey was considering to sell public assets like Turkish Airlines, Turk Telekom and BOTAS to Gulf countries.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan is set to embark on a visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) amidst reports that Turkey is preparing to sell public assets including Turkish Airlines, Turk Telekom, and BOTAS, as part of its economic recovery plan.

The announcement was made by Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek, who revealed that the visit aims to pave the way for “significant investments” in Turkey.

Regarding the working visit to the UAE conducted with Deputy President Cevdet Yilmaz before the upcoming Eid al-Adha (Kurban Bayramı), Simsek emphasized that the discussions with UAE President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan had taken place in a positive atmosphere. The meetings explored new opportunities for economic cooperation between the two countries.

Simsek stated that Erdogan’s visit was planned to take place after the NATO Leaders’ Summit on July 11-12.

In a recent report, Cumhuriyet newspaper revealed that the Turkish government was considering the potential sale of institutions such as Turkish Airlines (THY), Turk Telekom, and BOTAS as part of its economic recovery plan. These companies are part of the Sovereign Wealth Fund. The potential income from predominantly Gulf countries as potential buyers could reach an astounding $100 billion.

Senol Babuscu, the former general manager of Ziraat Bank, was quoted by the newspaper, stating, “A partial sale of Turkish Airlines (THY), BOTAS, and Turk Telekom, which are part of the Sovereign Wealth Fund, may be considered. However, it seems difficult for US, European Union, and Japanese capital to show interest in these companies in this environment of distrust. This indicates that the sales will be directed towards Middle Eastern countries.”

Pro-government journalist Hande Firat also wrote last week in her column in Hurriyet that the UAE was preparing to invest $30-40 billion in “permanent and long-term direct investments.”

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