Steel, automotive and construction are likely to be attractive investment sectors in Latin America for Turkish businesses as Turkey seeks extensive investment opportunities in the region, according to a report in the Turkish press.
An official from Turkey's Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK), a non-governmental organization dedicated to enhancing Turkey's foreign commercial relations, stated in the report in question that Turkey's already-established foreign economic councils with Brazil and Mexico have achieved remarkable progress in a short period of time. The official, who declined to be named, indicated automotive, steel, tourism, petrochemicals and construction as the sectors in Latin America likely to prove attractive for Turkish investment, adding that Turkey's current exports to Latin America accounted for only one percent of the country's total exports in 2009.
The Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan had visited Mexico on December 9-10 in line with the Turkish government's attempt to forge closer relations with Latin America. In an important development during the visit, Mexico had pledged to provide Turkish businessmen with long-term multiple-entry visas and to make the visa application process shorter and easier.
Following a meeting with Erdoğan, Mexican President Felipe Calderon had also invited Turkish constructors to his country, revealing a plan to invest 50 billion dollars in infrastructure in Mexico.