ISTANBUL: President Asif Ali Zardari on Thursday invited the Turkish business community to take advantage of the investment and business friendly opportunities offered by Pakistan and undertake their business operations in the country.

The President said this during his meetings with the leading business tycoons of Turkey after the conclusion of 11th ECO Summit here on Thursday.

Those who called on the President included Mr. Ahmet Zorlu, President Zorlu Holdings, Mr. Osman Karadeniz, President/CEO of Kara, Mr. Yasar Kucukcalik, President of Calik Holdings and Mr. Rifat Hisarciklioglu, President of Turkish Union of Chambers & Commodity Exchanges (TOBB).

From Pakistan's side Pakistan's Ambassador in Turkey Tariq Azizuddin, Chairman BOI Saleem H. Mandviwala, Secretary to the President Malik Asif Hayat and other senior officials were present during the meeting besides Press Secretary to the President Taimour Azmat Osman.

Briefing the media about the meetings Press Secretary to the President Taimour Azmat Osman said that the Presidents of Zorlu Holdings, Kara, Calik and the Turkish Union of Chambers & Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) during their meetings with President Zardari at Ciragan Palace Kempinski Hotel expressed their keen interest in extending their business operations in Pakistan.

Mr. Azmat said that during the meeting with Mr. Rifat Hisarciklioglu, President Turkish Union of Chambers & Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), the President said that the excellent relations enjoyed by the two countries do not commensurate with the existing trade volume of the two countries.

The President said that Pakistan and Turkey enjoy strong bonds of brotherhood and friendship in political, social, cultural and many other areas but the trade relations are yet to reflect the true nature of the existing equation of the two countries.

The President urged the head of Turkish Union of Chambers & Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) that represents country's 1.3 million companies and acts as the most effective professional organization with a network of members reaching into all scale of business, to persuade and guide the Turkish business community to take advantage of the emerging Pakistani economy.

Mr. Azmat said that the President during the meeting underlined the importance that the Government was according high priority towards the economic sector and has introduced investment friendly laws and environment.

“We pursue a totally liberal investment policy”, Mr. Azmat quoted the President as saying.

The President during the meetings said that Energy, Textile, Agro-food, construction and mining were the prominent areas where Turkish business community could take advantage and extend their operations.

He said that the availability of skilled but cheap labour coupled with abundant raw material resources offer excellent opportunities to the investors.

The Turkish businessmen thanked the President for meeting them and expressed their keen desire to explore and extend their business operations in Pakistan.