Turkish Consul General (CG) in Pakistan Tolga Ucak, on Tuesday, announced Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdo?an’s plans to visit Pakistan next month. Erdogan is expected to make a formal investment-related announcement during his visit. In his address at the inauguration ceremony of Turkish Association of Electrical Electronics and Services Exporters’ (TET) sartorial B2B meetings, organised by Ecommerce Gateway, between Turkish and Pakistani businessmen, the Consul General remarked that Turkey enjoyed an unbreakable bond with Pakistan, which would only grow stronger with time. He added that Turkey favoured a balanced trade with its brotherly state and would extend its cooperation in the defence sector in addition to bilateral trade and technology transfer. The Turkish government was very interested in China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and was already discussing its participation in these projects with Pakistani authorities, Turkish CG said. He noted that the total trade turnover of Turkey was $200 billion, and, thus, a balanced bilateral trade would largely benefit Pakistan; increasing its exports. The B2B event was said to help Pakistan’s Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) explore business opportunities with their Turkish counterparts. “We wish that Pakistan’s SME sector should grow, which is the prime employment generator in an economy,” he maintained. TET Member, Hakan Ozturk, asserted that the body would hold meetings with the business community and trade organisations in Karachi and Lahore during their five-day visit to promote trade between the two countries. Ecommerce Gateway Vice President, Umair Nizam, said that a 20-member delegation, representing as many as 13 prominent Turkish companies, would sign agreements with Pakistani companies in electrical and electronic sectors. Similar B2B meetings would also be organised with the businessmen in Lahore. Published in Daily Times, February 20th 2019.