Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan meets with Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani at the Presidential Palace in Ankara, TurkeyJanuary 15, 2018. (Reuters Photo)
DOHA, Jan. 23 (Xinhua) -- Qatar and turkey have strengthened their bilateral relations over the last few years, particularly after the siege imposed on Qatar by its Gulf allies, local media reported Tuesday.
After the imposition of the embargo on Qatar by the Saudi-led blockading countries who closed air-land-sea borders with Doha, the trade exchange between Doha and Ankara, B2B meetings and people to people contact has been growing fast and steadily.
''The imports from Turkey has jumped by 30 percent compared to the same period last year," said Sheikh Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani, Chairman of Qatar chamber.
He added that the bilateral trade volume in 2017 reached QR3.9bn. Around 205 Turkish companies are currently operating in Doha and implementing projects to the tune of QR42.24bn (11.6 billion U.S. dollars).
According to the report, it showed that Qatar's investment in Turkey has crossed over 20 billion dollars, which led Qatar to become the second largest investor in Turkey.
Doha hosted the (Expo Turkey 2018) which concluded on January 19, with the participation of 111 Turkish companies, and contributed to enabling Qatari importers to contact with Turkish manufacturers to represent them in the local market.
On June 5, the quartet includes Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, the United Arab Emirates and Egypt severed ties with Qatar accusing it of backing extremism and fostering links with their Shia rival Iran.
Doha, however, vehemently denies the claims and Ankara have insisted there is absolutely no evidence to back the allegations.
Earlier, The Saudi-led bloc boycotting Doha have issued the emirate a list of demands to lift the blockade which includes the closure of Turkey's military base.
Doha and Ankara have rejected the demand to close the base, which is Turkey's first military installation in the Middle East.