Shaikh Khalid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Deputy Prime Minister, has affirmed the keenness of Bahrain, under the leadership of His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, and the follow-up of His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, Crown Prince and Prime Minister, to continue strengthening its cooperation with the Republic of Türkiye.
With Türkiye entering a new historical phase, Bahrain is looking forward to boosting trade and tourism exchange between the two countries, and encouraging the private sector to explore available investment opportunities, and strengthen partnership in the infrastructure sector, the deputy prime minister said in an interview with the Anadolu News Agency during his visit to Ankara.
Shaikh Khalid was delegated by HM the King to attend the inauguration ceremony of re-elected President Recep Tayyip Erdogan of Türkiye, last Saturday in Ankara,
The following is the text of the interview:
How would you evaluate the current state of relations between the Republic of Türkiye and the Kingdom of Bahrain?
Diplomatic relations between the Kingdom of Bahrain and the Republic of Türkiye go back to some 50 years, since 1973. This solid and strong relationship is based on the values of mutual respect and understanding. Over 17 official visits have been made, and several agreements and memoranda of understanding have been signed between the two countries in various fields. To date, 38 agreements and MoUs have been signed in different fields, including youth, education, military, and industry.
His Majesty King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa conducted two official visits to the Republic of Türkiye, the latest being in 2016, when His Majesty stressed the Kingdom’s commitment to further strengthening Bahraini-Turkish relations for the mutual benefit of both nations and their peoples. His Royal Highness Prince Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister, also made an official visit to the Republic of Türkiye in 2016, affirming the importance of further expanding relations between the two countries.
A Turkish delegation led by President Recep Tayeb Erdogan, also conducted an official visit to the Kingdom of Bahrain a year later, in 2017, when a number of agreements and MoUs were signed.
The two countries enjoy a prospering economic relationship with the volume of bilateral trade amounting to almost $883 million in 2022- up by 66% from the same period the year before.
The kingdom highly values its relations with Türkiye and we continue to welcome Türkiye’s role and positive engagement on regional and international levels, becoming a role model for development.
Delegated by His Majesty the King, I am honored to be attending the inauguration ceremony of President Erdogan. The Kingdom is confident that the two countries will continue to foster these bilateral relations and advance them towards broader horizons of cooperation and partnership.
What are your expectations and ambitions for bilateral relations between the two countries in the new phase following Türkiye’s election for a new term?
The Kingdom of Bahrain remains committed to further strengthening its bilateral relations with the Republic of Türkiye across all fields.
As Türkiye enters a new historical phase following the announcement of the election results, through which the Turkish people renewed their confidence in President Erdogan for a new presidential term, the Kingdom of Bahrain affirms its eagerness to continue developing its distinguished relations with Türkiye within the framework of joint cooperation, including work to increase the levels of trade exchange between the two countries, as well as encouraging both countries’ business sectors to explore new investment prospects. In this regard, we commend the efforts of the Turkish-Bahraini Business Council in further developing these relations.
On top of business opportunities, the tourism sector is another essential domain to be further explored. The Kingdom of Bahrain regards this sector as a key contributor to non-Oil GDP growth, and has launched a Tourism Strategy for the years 2022-2026 as part of its post-pandemic Economic Recovery Plan. Similarly, the Republic of Türkiye places great values in this sector, as the country has become an ideal destination for both recreational and medical tourism. Thousands of Bahrainis and other nationalities from the region visit Türkiye every year.
As the chairman of the Ministerial Committee for Development Projects and Infrastructure, I also look forward to focusing on cooperation in the infrastructure sector, as well as the exchange of knowledge and experience in this area. Moreover, I would like to express my admiration for the urban expansion and advanced infrastructure that Türkiye is currently experiencing.
Source: Bahrain News Agency (BNA)