Ankara: Seven bilateral agreements were signed on Wednesday in the presence of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and United Arab Emirates (UAE) President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, marking a significant step forward in strategic cooperation between the two nations. The signing ceremony, held in Ankara, followed a one-on-one meeting and the inaugural session of the Trkiye-UAE High-Level Strategic Council.
According to Anadolu Agency, President Erdogan expressed his satisfaction in hosting Sheikh Mohammed and his delegation, highlighting the foundation laid during his 2023 visit to Abu Dhabi. Erdogan remarked on the progress made across various sectors, including trade, infrastructure, defense, energy, technology, and transportation, emphasizing that the partnership has begun to bear fruit.
The leaders discussed the ambitious trade goals, with President Erdogan recalling past doubts about reaching a $10 billion trade volume. This year, the target is set to exceed $20 billion, with a medium-term aim of reaching $40 billion. Beyond bilateral ties, their discussions also covered regional challenges, particularly the situation in Gaza.
As part of the agreements, a memorandum of understanding on investment cooperation in tourism and hospitality was signed by Ahmet Burak Daglioglu, head of the Investment Office of the Presidency of Trkiye, and UAE Investment Minister Mohamed Hassan Al Suwaidi. Additional memoranda were signed to strengthen investment cooperation in the pharmaceutical, industrial, and manufacturing sectors, as well as in food and agriculture.
A memorandum on the establishment of a joint consular committee was signed by Turkish Deputy Foreign Minister Nuh Yilmaz and UAE State Minister Khalifa Shaheen Al Marar. An agreement on mutual protection of classified information was signed by Turkish National Defense Minister Yasar Guler and UAE State Minister for Defense Affairs Mohammed Mubarak Al Mazrouei. Furthermore, a memorandum on cooperation in polar research was signed by Trkiye's Industry and Technology Minister Mehmet Fatih Kacir and UAE Industry and Advanced Technology Minister Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber.