Tugay Tuncer, Turkey’s ambassador to the United Arab Emirates (UAE), earlier toured the Turkey pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, taking in the visitor experience and emphasizing the trade and investment opportunities the mega-event will provide.

Tuncer told the Expo News Service that Turkey’s participation in Expo 2020 represents “a new era of cooperation and a strengthening relationship with the UAE.”

Mukerrem Aksoy, Turkey’s Commissioner General, highlighted the country’s food and agriculture sectors’ strength in the face of global food security challenges: “Turkey produces organic foods for the whole world.

“And we are ready to supply the world.”

When discussing the two countries’ growing trade, the ambassador stated: “Our trade with the UAE is at US$8.5 billion and the numbers are increasing – in the first six months we saw close to a one hundred percent increase, and Expo 2020 will contribute to [this growth].

“It will show that we can export processed food, fruit and vegetables and construction materials, which this region needs, and which Turkey has in abundance.

“Our construction sector is the second biggest in the world.”

Expo 2020 is also expected to benefit Turkey’s tourism industry.

The diplomat, who used to work as a tour guide, stated: “Many people earn their income from tourism, whether guides, hotel employees, or in food production or processing – the industry has many sub-products and sub-industries.

“We welcomed approximately 30 million tourists annually before Covid-19, across coastal, cultural, health and winter tourism.

“This year, we reached high numbers, despite opening to the market quite late, and it was clear that people are hungry for travel.”

The Turkey pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, located in the Sustainability District and themed ‘Creating the Future from the Origin of Civilizations,’ was designed to reflect the unique history of Anatolia – the cradle of civilisations – as well as nature and the country’s sustainability goals.

– India’s new age travel digital media