TURKEY is looking to increase exports to Malaysia in several areas with growth potential and strike a balance in trade, says outgoing Turkish ambassador to Malaysia Basak Turkogu.

The trade balance is currently in Malaysia’s favour.

“Despite the great improvement in bilateral trade between both countries since the signing of a free trade agreement (FTA) in 2016, there remains a huge gap in terms of export value which has benefited Malaysia.

“I think there is a huge potential (for exports) in respect of the defence industry, which was my priority. Then comes education and of course technology, as well as cooperating in the food industry such as the halal sector and electrical appliances.

“It (bilateral trade) is now flourishing. We have to deepen and enhance the relationship which has greater mutual trust and understanding, underlined by a strong partnership base via all the legal agreements, as well as political will,” she told Bernama.

Turkogu is expected to leave Malaysia this month, to take up her next posting in Malta.

She expressed her gratitude towards Malaysia’s solidarity and cooperation towards Turkey in difficult times.

“We went through a really difficult time in 2016, with one terrorist attack after another. While we were navigating through all those troubles, we always found solidarity and cooperation from the Malaysian government and its people,” she added.

Turkogu also said she appreciated her time in Malaysia.

“For the first time in my career, I feel very torn apart (about leaving Malaysia). Normally, when posted to a country for a couple of years and know we would be leaving, we feel like,’yes’. But because of the warm friendship of the people here, my heart remains in Malaysia,” she said.

The Turkish Embassy’s chief commercial counsellor Refik Ozgur said Malaysia recorded exports of US$2 billion (RM8.5 billion) to Turkey this year as of September.

Turkish exports to Malaysia stood at US$200 million.

“Malaysian companies have taken advantage of the FTA. Among the main items from Malaysia to Turkey are palm oil, raw aluminium and electronic products, including solar energy,” Ozgur said.

Figures from the International Trade and Industry Ministry showed that Malaysia-Turkey bilateral trade grew 50.2% in 2016 to RM8.42 billion from RM5.61 billion in 2015, with exports totalling RM7.13 billion and imports at RM1.24 billion.

From January to August this year, bilateral trade between the two countries rose 67.4% to RM8.18 billion from the same period last year, with exports worth RM7.12 billion and imports at RM1.07 billion. – Bernama, November 5, 2017.