JEDDAH, 31 October 2003 — Turkey hopes to send 100,000 pilgrims for the next Haj, up from 80,000, according to a top Turkish diplomat.
A six-member Turkish Haj mission discussed arrangements for the increased quota of pilgrims with the Ministry of Haj during its recent visit.
“The delegation met with Minister of Haj Iyad Madani and discussed issues related to the annual pilgrimage, including Haj charters by the Turkish national airline,” Turkish Consul General Hilmi Dedeoglu told Arab News at a reception to mark his country’s national day on Wednesday night.
“Up to 80,000 Umrah pilgrims have also been coming from Turkey annually,” he said.
He said many Turkish companies were inclined to return to the Kingdom to take part in the booming building and construction sector. “During the period between late 1970s and early 1980s when the Kingdom saw an unprecedented boom, a large number of Turkish firms took on construction projects here,” he said.
Dedeoglu also said efforts would be made to expand the existing bilateral trade, which was evenly balanced. “Our manufacturers and traders are eyeing this market with a lot more goods that are qualitative and competitive. They include food, textiles, electrical and electronic appliances, and construction materials,” he said. “Aside from trade, Turkey is keen to further promote relations with the Kingdom in cultural and other fields,” he said.
Turkey is getting ready to host the OIC foreign ministers’ meeting in Istanbul in the second quarter of 2004.
Turkey is also keen to attract tourists from Saudi Arabia and is considering a proposal to offer visas to Saudi nationals on arrival. “We’ve forwarded the proposal and it’s being actively considered by our government,” said Dedeoglu, who assumed charge here about a year ago after serving Turkish missions in Madrid, Addis Ababa and Buenos Aires.
