Turkey's growth performance catches UK's attention

By Bahattin Gonultas and Sevgi Ceren Gokkoyun

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey’s strong growth performance and potential have caught the U.K.’s attention, Chris W. J. Gaunt, chairman of British Chamber of Commerce in Turkey (BCCT) told Anadolu Agency on Thursday.

“Depending on the outcome of the Custom Union negotiations with EU, the U.K. is ready and willing to negotiate a strong Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with Turkey, so we do not miss any opportunity of future growth potential of Turkey.”

Gaunt said both countries aimed to optimize relations by setting up a work group in order to maintain trade relations and efficiency after Brexit.

“Turkey was the first country that the U.K. came to to explore any FTA with it so that is a clear indication that Turkey is a high priority post-Brexit for the U.K.,” Gaunt said.

Gaunt said that it was hard for the U.K. to establish a free trade agreement with Turkey until a good agreement between the U.K. and the EU was finalized.

Gaunt said Turkey has a potential for growth and that the U.K. wanted to be involved in that growing economy.

Turkey was important for the U.K. as a regional hub and a great platform for striking opportunities either in the Middle East, North Africa or Central Asia, he said.

“We have to maintain that strong agreement and remain high-profile in Turkey,” Gaunt said.

Stressing that Turkey was a great manufacturing country, albeit for other country's brands, Gaunt pointed out that Turkey should come to a point where it manufactures for its own globally known brands.