Gulf-Turkey business forum begins in Istanbul 

(MENAFN - Kuwait News Agency (KUNA)) The Gulf-Turkey business forum began in Istanbul Monday with participation of 165 businesspeople from the Arab Gulf countries to explore investment opportunities between both sides.

Chairperson of the Arab Businesswomen Council Sheikh Hussa Saad Al-Abdullah Al-Sabah, speaking to KUNA on sidelines of the meeting, said participants discussed channels of communications between Turkish and Gulf businesspeople.

They also discussed the establishment of small and medium-size projects, Al-Sabah, of Kuwait, added.

The participation of women in the forum, she added, clearly reflected the role played by females in economic development in general.

Assistant Secretary general of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) for economic affairs, Abdullah Al-Shebly, addressing the forum, underlined importance of economic and trade partnership between the six GCC countries and Turkey.

He called for benefiting from Turkey's expertise in backing development in the Gulf countries, and noted that Turkey is a giant consuming market specially oil, gas, petrochemicals and fertilizers.

Al-Shebly, speaking on behalf of his boss Abdullatif Al-Zayani, said the GCC could benefit from Turkish experience in agriculture, animal and weater resource.

Trade exchange between Turkey and the GCC jumped to USD 20 billion in 2010 against USD two billion in 2000.