Scottish companies are visiting Turkey this week, targeting new business opportunities in the country’s growing oil and gas sector.
The trade mission includes engineering firms Weir Group and Clyde Bergemann, as well as businesses delivering specialist services – ranging from maintenance and repair to consultancy and recruitment – to the oil and gas industry.
North and north-east representation includes Aberdeen firm Online Valves and Inverness College.
Scottish Enterprise chief executive Lena Wilson is leading the delegation, which will meet bosses from Turkish and international oil and gas firms based in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir.
Although Turkey has limited oil and gas resources of its own, it has several major pipelines carrying crude oil and natural gas supplies to Europe from the Caspian Sea and Middle East.
Ms Wilson said: “Turkish companies are becoming significant players in the region, partnering and investing in major oil and gas projects in Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Iraq and Libya.
“Decades of experience operating in the North Sea has given Scottish companies the expertise needed for oil and gas production and exploration, and working with companies in the area could help Scottish firms get a stronger foothold in some of these markets.”
Economic growth in Turkey, which straddles Europe and Asia, has outstripped nearly all of its European neighbours.
It achieved growth of 8.5% in 2011 and although this fell to 2.2% last year as a result of the eurozone crisis, it is forecast to reach 3.4% this year and 4.4% in 2014.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development predicts Turkey will be the fastest-growing member between 2012 and 2017, while Turkey’s government has set a target of growing annual gross domestic product – a measure of economic output – to nearly £1.3trillion in 2023, from £496billion in 2011.
Scottish companies have already been capitalising on Turkey’s recent growth and winning new business.
In August, the Akdeniz shipyard in southern Turkey completed a tug using designs from Aberdeenshire firm Macduff Ship Design.
Scottish Development International, SE’s international arm, is looking at where there might be opportunities to build on these existing links and Ms Wilson is meeting senior business leaders from Turkey’s technology, construction and food and drink sectors.
She said: “Given Scotland’s capabilities in these areas, we believe Scottish companies can add real value to Turkish businesses.”
Recommended for you
