Turkey's foreign trade minister said Tuesday that Turkey would definitely build an industrial zone in West Bank despite all the obstructions by Israel.

"Such a project in Erez had been hindered by Israel in the past. Now, the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) is carrying out a project to set up an industrial zone in West Bank. It has to be built despite all the obstructions by Israel," Zafer Caglayan told a press conference in Istanbul where he met Palestinian Economy Minister Hassan Abu Libdeh during the Turkey-Palestine Business Forum.

Caglayan also said that a significant part of Turkish exports to Israel was sent to Palestine.

"Last year, our exports to Israel was worth 1.5 billion USD. Some 350 million USD of it was exports to Palestine through Israel. However, we can ship those products directly to Palestine," Caglayan said.

Palestinian authorities asked Turkish government for help for direct trade between Turkish and Palestinian firms, Caglayan said.

He also said that a large group of Turkish businessmen from several business associations would soon accompany him during a trip to Palestine.

"We will encourage Turkish firms for investments in Palestine. During our visit, we will exert efforts to turn Palestine into an area of investment and enhance the level of economic development there," he stated.

Caglayan added that Turkish and Palestinian governments would work together to organize trade fairs in Turkey in a bid to promote Palestinian products and increase the trade volume of 29.5 million USD.
 

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