Turkish Trade Minister Bolat discusses bilateral trade, cooperation at COMCEC session

Turkish Trade Minister Omer Bolat met Sunday with officials from Gambia, Palestine, Cameroon, and Saudi Arabia during the 40th Ministerial Session of the Standing Committee for Economic and Commercial Cooperation (COMCEC) of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in Istanbul.

Bolat stressed the need for enhanced trade relations with Gambia, particularly in infrastructure, energy production, and customs efficiency. “We aim to improve the trade framework with Gambia to support mutual economic growth,” he noted.

‘We will continue to support Palestine’

In talks with Palestinian National Economy Minister Mohammed Al-Amour, Bolat reaffirmed Türkiye’s commitment to supporting Palestine amid escalating tensions in the region. “We will continue our support for the construction and development of the State of Palestine,” Bolat said, emphasizing the urgency to halt Israeli attacks.

During his meeting with Cameroon’s Minister of Territorial Administration, Paul Atanga Nji, Bolat discussed cooperation in infrastructure, energy, and renewable energy sectors. “Türkiye is committed to strengthening our economic ties with Cameroon,” he stated, announcing a planned third Joint Economic Commission meeting in Yaoundé.

Concluding his diplomatic engagements, Bolat and Saudi Arabian Commerce Minister Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi set ambitious trade targets, aiming to increase the bilateral trade volume to $10 billion in the short term and $30 billion over the medium and long term. “We aim to diversify our areas of cooperation and build on recent agreements,” Bolat remarked.

The meetings, which concluded behind closed doors, emphasized Türkiye’s focus on bolstering economic collaboration with key nations in the OIC.