CAIRO - In a warm and brotherly atmosphere, Turkish Ambassador to Egypt Huseyin Avni Botsali celebrated the 89th anniversary of Turkey at a reception held in his residence on Wednesday night. "In the course of the past 89 years, the Republic of Turkey has managed to lift itself up from the ashes of a collapsed empire and is now a healthy and rapidly growing parliamentary democracy. “We have been able to build up the world's 17th, Europe's sixth and our region's largest market economy, integrated into the global system," Botsali told the gathering, that included diplomats, ministers, business people and media figures. "We owe this success not only to our visionary leaders, but also to our people who have demonstrated the commitment and endurance needed for sustainable growth, raising our GNP to $1 trillion and our income-per-capita to approximately $10,000," he added. The Turkish Ambassador went on to say that his country is capable of and keen to share its experience with other friendly nations, further expanding and diversifying its partnerships, starting with Egypt. "We are grateful to the Egyptian leadership and people for partnering with Turkey in the economic, political and social fields. We believe that this partnership will multiply our mutual opportunities and open new avenues for bilateral, regional and international co-operation," the diplomat said. Turkish Premier Recep Tayyib Erdogan, accompanied by 13 ministers, will be in Cairo this month for the meeting of a high-level strategic council established between the two countries to bolster ties. The Turkish Government has recently pledged a $2 billion package to support the revival and stabilisation of the Egyptian economy. During Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi's working visit to Turkey on 30 September, he witnessed the signing of the protocol for the first $1 billion tranche of the said package. "The Turkish people and Government have not shied away; nor have they waited for other states, banks and institutions to engage in greater co-operation with Egypt," he said. When the two countries signed the Free Trade Agreement in 2005, their bilateral trade was less than $500 million. The agreement came into force in 2007. And this year, the fifth sine its implementation, the trade will reach, and maybe even exceed, $5 billion. There are 300 business entrepreneurs and over 100 factories employing 50,000 Egyptian workers, with $1.5 billion of investment, generating at least LE500 million in added value and bringing hundreds of millions of dollars in export revenue to the Egyptian economy. "Turkish businessmen become Egyptian by reinvesting their profits back in Egypt. They invest in the future of this country. Their strategy is growing together and building the future together. If this vision is not sustainable, what is?" asked the Ambassador, who has been working in Egypt for three years now. "I will once again repeat my motto: ‘Masr-Turkeya Eid Wahda' [Egypt and Turkey are one hand] for a more peaceful, prosperous and stable world," he concluded. His speech was followed by a number of wonderful shows put on by Egyptian and Turkish students, including the Ambassador's two daughters.
