Rt. Hon , will visit Ankara, Turkey
today (Monday 17 June) to meet with government ministers
and businesses to strengthen bilateral relations between
the two nations.
UK imports from Turkey totalled £11 billion last year,
while annual trade between the two countries recently
surpassed $20 billion, making Turkey an important ally and
trading partner. will underline the strategic
importance of the alliance during his trip this week.
He will meet with the Turkish Trade Minister, Ruhsar Pekcan
and the Governor of the Central Bank of Turkey to discuss
ways to better strengthen the Turkey-UK alliance after the
UK has left the EU and to acknowledge the ongoing
co-operation offered by the UK-Turkey Trade Working Group,
designed to secure maximum continuity.
During a speech at the Turkish National Union of Business
Chambers on Tuesday (18 June), will address Turkish business
leaders to highlight the strong trading relationship and
pattern of investment in both directions between the two
countries. He will also set out a vision for Britain’s
independent trade policy as the UK prepares to leave the
EU.
Secretary of State for International Trade and President of
the Board of Trade, the Rt Hon MP will say:
Building on a trading relationship which goes back to
Queen Elizabeth I and the Ottoman empire, the close bond
between two of the world’s most important economic and
military powers is more crucial than ever for Britain as
we prepare to leave the EU.
The UK is now Turkey’s second largest export market and
trade between our two countries was worth £18 billion
last year. My international economic department is
working closely with Turkish colleagues to explore all
options for enabling continuity of trade.
We are establishing in Turkey one of our first overseas
UK Export Finance representatives, who will have £3.5
billion of export finance to help accelerate trade
between our countries.
As we leave the European Union, the UK will remain a
steadfast supporter of Turkey and I look forward to
working with my counterparts to deepen our already strong
relationship.
Notes to editors
• The Department for International Trade (DIT) secures UK
and global prosperity by promoting and financing
international trade and investment and championing free
trade. We are an international economic department,
responsible for:
· Bringing together policy, promotion and financial
expertise to break down barriers to trade and investment,
and help businesses succeed
· Delivering a new trade policy framework for the UK as we
leave the EU
· Promoting British trade and investment across the world
· Building the global appetite for British goods and
services
· Latest statistics from the ONS show UK firms sold more
overseas in the 2018/19 financial year, £639.9 billion,
than at any time since records began
· The UK has now achieved 36 consecutive months of export
growth on an annual rolling basis
· Separate OECD data shows UK exports grew faster than
Germany, France and Italy between 2016 and 2018
