German Finance Minister and vice-chancellor Olaf Scholz
The Turkish economy is of great importance for both Germany and the EU, Germany Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said Thursday, according to Turkish ministerial sources.
Turkish Finance Minister Berat Albayrak and his German counterpart Olaf Scholz spoke over the phone about the U.S. sanctions and steps taken against Turkey's economy, according to a statement from the ministry.
The two ministers have agreed to take steps to enhance economic ties.
Albayrak said that support offered to Turkey proved promising for positive relations with the EU.
The two ministers decided to meet in Berlin on Sept. 21, according to the statement.
The finance and economy ministers of Germany and Turkey will meet to prepare for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's state visit to Germany in September, a spokesman for Chancellor Angela Merkel said on Wednesday.The spokesman did not say in an emailed statement when or where the ministers will meet.Merkel and Erdoğan discussed bilateral ties and the situation in Syria during a phone call on Wednesday, the spokesman said. Erdoğan, Merkel talk over phone
German, Turkish ministers to meet before Erdoğan-Merkel talks
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday talked over the phone and agreed on meeting in Berlin in September.The two leaders confirmed their commitment to strengthening cooperation through mutual high-level visits and contacts, said the sources, who asked not to be named due to restrictions on speaking to the media.They also discussed Turkish Treasury and Finance Minister Berak Albayrak meeting with his German counterpart.Erdogan last paid Berlin an official visit in 2014.Merkel also stressed that the strength of the Turkish economy is important for Germany.She told a news conference on Monday that an "economically prosperous Turkey" serves Germany's interests.
Erdoğan, Merkel talk over phone
German consumer electronics retailer MediaMarkt is doing well in Turkey and is a long-term investor in the country, said a top company executive Tuesday."We have achieved a significant market share in the consumer electronics market in Turkey," said Pieter August Haas, the CEO of German MediaMarktSaturn Retail Group and the Ceconomy Group.The MediaMarkt chain is well positioned in Turkey, Haas told investors via teleconferencing.'Germany is Turkey's most important trading partner'The group operates more than 1,020 stores in 14 countries, including Germany, Austria, Italy, Switzerland, Hungary, Poland, Spain, the Netherlands, Belgium, Portugal, Luxembourg, Greece, and Sweden.Sixty-eight of these stores are located in Turkey.The group’s overall third quarter 2017 sales fell 1 percent to €4.59 billion, while Ceconomy's online sales rose 21 percent.'Germany would like to see an economically prosperous Turkey'Germany has interest in stable Turkish economy: gov't spokesman
German MediaMarkt says in Turkey for the long run