Turkish Airlines invites Saudi women pilots

ISTANBUL: Saudi women pilots are most welcome to join Turkish Airlines if they wish to because the Kingdom’s women are capable of occupying leadership positions, an official of the airline has said here.
“We are ready to employ Saudi women as pilots if they have the right qualifications. There is a global deficit in this profession that could climb to 100,000 by 2020,” Tamul Kotel, the head of Turkish Airlines, was quoted as saying by local media on Saturday.
“There are many positions in the airline industry for women. Turkish Airlines prefers to employ captains, both male and female, who are Muslim,” he said during a press conference in Ankara in the presence of Mustapha Kokoso, senior adviser for Turkish investments.
Kotel said the increase in the volume of investments in Turkey of late is encouraging many Saudi companies to invest in the industrial sector. The Turkish government will present many investment opportunities in the industrial sector to Saudis in the near future, he added.
Kokoso reportedly said there is a high amount of Saudi investment in Turkey, which is yet to be announced. “A number of Saudi investors prefer joint ventures with their Turkish counterparts in mega projects, especially in the tourism and real estate sectors.”
He said that currently, the trade balance between the two countries is almost $6.4 billion, and Turkish investments in Saudi Arabia stand at around $642 million, he said. “There are 200 Turkish companies in the Kingdom while the number of Saudi companies in Turkey is about 700 with a total investment of around $2 billion.”
Meanwhile, Turkey is preparing to host businessmen and financiers for a forum for investment and property on April 23 and 24, highlighting the new laws and opportunities for partnerships with top Saudi and Turkish executives in investment, contracting, real estate and trade.
High-level Turkish officials said the government is keen to facilitate foreign investment in the country because of the presence of a strong group of qualified personnel, the agreeable geographical location of Turkish industrial cities and the Turkish government’s willingness to provide many opportunities in the industrial sector to Saudi investors.
Istanbul Mayor Kadeer Tob Pash was quoted as saying that he would continue to coordinate with the central government in Turkey relating to taxes on Arabs. He said Saudi businessmen are developers rather than consumers, which is what is required for success.