Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK)’s Turkey-Hungary Business Council sent an aid convoy to Hungary as a sign of the friendship between the two countries. With the financial contribution of the dominant Turkish companies, three-truck aid convoy was launched with medical equipment consisting of face shields, medical hand sanitizers and special high-alcohol scented hand sanitizers manufactured in Turkey.

The latest example of a centuries-old friendship between Turkey and Hungary has been demonstrated in the fight against the COVID-19 epidemic. The members of the DEIK’s Turkey-Hungary Business Council, as an expression of goodwill and friendship, decided to provide medical supplies to Hungary, with which we have strong historical and commercial relations, to help in its efforts to combat COVID-19 pandemic. 50,000 face shields, 16,000 hand sanitizers and 20,000 special high-alcohol scented hand sanitizers were supplied from companies operating in Turkey with the financial contributions of prominent business world and the companies that are members of the Turkey-Hungary Business Council.

Adnan Polat, President of the DEIK’s Turkey-Hungary Business Council said the Turkish-Hungarian friendship has become even closer in recent years. Mr. Polat said, “The assistance we provide to each other during this difficult period will further strengthen the friendship between the two countries and help to expand unity and cooperation in even more areas in the post-epidemic period.”

Mr. Polat stressed that, “Friendly relations between Hungary and Turkey, bond from history and cultural proximity, developing economic and trade relations, as well as Hungary’s support for our international initiatives are progressing positively. Since 2013, the two countries have signed several economic and political partnership agreements within the strategic cooperation agreement. Our mutual trade continues to increase every year compared to 6 years ago. As a business community, our primary goal is to double the trade volume in a short time, which was realized as USD 2.8 billion in 2019; to increase the country’s goal to USD 6 billion. While we continue to work for this, we do our best to ensure that bilateral relations are developed not only in the commercial sphere but also in other areas through social and cultural initiatives” said Mr. Polat.

Suat Karakus, Vice President of the DEIK’s Turkey-Hungary Business Council informed that the medical aid convoy consisting of three trucks provided by the DEIK’s Turkey-Hungary Business Council, had left Istanbul by road. Mr. Karakus highlighted that the member companies of the DEIK’s Turkey-Hungary Business Council strive to establish dialogue and business relations with Hungarian companies, as a result of which the Turkish-Hungarian foreign trade volume reached USD 3 billion. On Tuesday, Suat Karakus handed over the aid of Turkish businessmen to Parliamentary State Secretary Levente Magyar from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

H.E. Mr. Ahmet Akif Oktay, Ambassador of the Republic of Turkey to Hungary highlighted that: I am pleased that Hungary and Turkey have successfully overcome the challenges of the health emergency caused by a virus outbreak that has swept our world in an unprecedented way. Once again, it has been proven that global problems can only be overcome through global cooperation. The convoy, organised by the Turkey-Hungary Business Council, is the best tangible example of the unity of the two nations. Turkey and Hungary have successfully fulfilled this exemplary solidarity which they have demonstrated at the level of bilateral relations.

Parliamentary State Secretary Mr. Levente Magyar from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade stressed that:  For months, Hungary has been struggling with the challenges of the pandemic with unprecedented national and international unity. Today, we can undoubtedly say that the first great battles of the fight have been fought successfully, and now it is time for recovery. But in addition to the resumption of economic life, we must not forget about preparing, stockpiling medical supplies in the event of a possible second wave of infections. On behalf of the Hungarian people, I would like to thank the selfless offer of the Turkish businessmen.

About the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK)’s Turkey-Hungary Business Council

• Year of Establishment: 1991
• Chairman representing Turkey: Adnan Polat
• Company and Title: Polat Holding A.Ş., chairman of the board
• Counterpart Organisation: Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MKIK)

In 1991, at the time of Hungary’s international opening, DEIK and the Hungarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MKIK) signed an agreement on the establishment of the DEIK’s Turkey-Hungary Business Council. DEIK’s Turkey-Hungary Business Council which operates under the roof of the European Union pursues the purpose of advancing the economic and trade ties between the two countries and strengthening the cooperation between their respective business communities. The Council encourages contacts and the exchange of views between the two sides and provides valuable information. The trade volume target between Turkey and Hungary, which is already realized as USD 3 billion, was set at USD 6 billion by President of the Republic of Turkey Mr. Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister of Hungary Mr. Viktor Orbán. The activities of the Turkish-Hungarian Business Council also focused on efforts to achieve the trade volume target.