World Bulletin / News Desk

Turkish business people will be able to travel to Benin visa-free, Benin's President Bon Yayi said during his visit to the Izmir Chamber of Commerce (IZTO) on Sunday.

According to the statement released by IZTO, following his program in Ankara President Yayi travelled to Izmir and attended the dinner given in his honor by IZTO.

In his speech during the dinner, Chairman of IZTO, Ekrem Demirtas extended his thanks to Yayi for his support to Izmir's EXPO2020 candidacy.

The trade volume between Turkey and Benin exceeded $100 million by rising threefold in the last four years, Demirtas said.

President Yayi praised Turkey's economic progress in the last 10 years by saying, "Now you are Europe's sixth, and world's 15th biggest economy. You aim to climb to the 10th rank in the world, but I think you can be third or fourth."

Yayi also named the Turkish economy as a "miracle" and he noted, "I have seen the economical miracle in Turkey and I want you to bring this miracle and prosperity to my country. They asked me for Turkish business people to travel Benin visa-free. From Monday onwards, you can come to Benin without visa."

Yayi attended the dinner with his spouse Chantal de Souza Yayi and the delegation including four ministers and 40 people, while Turkish delegation was composed of Izmir's deputy governor İbrahim Balli, acting mayor of Greater Municipality of Izmir Sirri Aydogan and business people registered in IZTO.