The Egyptian-Turkish Business Council said Turkish businessmen with businesses in Egypt will pressure the Turkish government to take less stringent stances against Egypt and consider their common economic interests with Egypt.
Ties between Cairo and Ankara have deteriorated since the ousting of ex-President Mohamed Morsy by armed forces in July following mass rallies. Turkey is a main opponent of Morsy’s ouster. The two countries summoned their ambassadors after a media war between their officials. They also canceled joint naval training that was slated for October.
Mohamed al-Morshedy, head of textile industries chamber in Egypt, said the agriculture minister’s decision to suspend importing of cotton from Turkey is normal in light of "Turkish intervention within Egyptian affairs." He also called on investors to express their solidarity with Egypt against the Turkish intervention, especially the insulting of the armed forces which he considered unacceptable.
Tukish imports of cotton to Egypt is limited, Morshedy said adding that reactive actions should be taken against Turkey's stand. He also called for suspending the trade agreement as an escalatory measure.
Abdel Ghany al-Abaseery, member of the Egyptian-Turkish Business Council, urged pressure against Turkey. He revealed holding meetings with Turkish businessmen and called on them to preserve their interests through talks with their government in order to stop interfering with Egyptian affairs.
He also stressed that Turkey needs the Egyptian market and hence it should consider the economic interests, as the Egyptian market made up for huge losses in Syria.
Hassan Eshra, head of the export council for textile, warned against the dangers of taking economic decisions against Turkey, which was keen not to harm the bilateral trade relations.
He also clarified that economic decisions from Egypt could face reactive measures against Egyptian products, such as the halting of some export products.
Sayyed abul Qomsan, adviser to the minister of trade and industry, said imported cotton from Turkey is very limited and that imposing restrictions on Turkish exports violates the agreement between the two countries.
