Saudi-Turkish trade rises 20% to SR 30 bn in 2012

Trade between Saudi Arabia and Turkey rose 20 percent to over $ 8 billion (SR 30 billion) in 2012 compared to the previous year, said an official from the Turkish embassy in Riyadh on Tuesday.
Sadri Altinock, the plenipotentiary minister at the Turkish Embassy, said this was a sign of the growing ties between the two nations.
Saudi non-oil exports to Turkey tripled between 2009 and 2013 to $ 2.2 billion (SR 8.3 billion), while Turkish exports to the Kingdom doubled to $ 3.7 billion (SR 13.8 billion), Altinock said.
The official said Saudi Arabia was now one of Turkey's top eight business partners in the world.
Altinock made the comments at a function organized by Al-Babtin Trading Company (ATC) to launch BEKO products in the Kingdom. BEKO is a domestic appliance and consumer electronics brand of the Turkish company Arçelik A.Ş.
He praised the Saudi government for creating a stable economy with many investment and business opportunities.
Abdul Karim Al-Babtin, chairman of ATC, welcomed his company's partnership with Arçelik. He said Arçelik's focus on research, patents and smart solutions for the environment were needed by Saudi customers.
Shirzat Subachi, the general manager of Arçelik, said he was confident that BEKO products would become top-sellers in Saudi Arabia and the Middle East.
Abdul Rehman Al-Hasan, ATC's general manager, said the company was one of the three fastest growing companies in the Kingdom in the last three years. He said BEKO products were an important addition to their product line.
Dr. Ahmed Abdul Khaliq, ATC's sales and marketing manager, outlined the successes of the company over the last three years. He added that BEKO products are known for their advanced and environmentally friendly technology.