DOHA, July 19 (Xinhua) -- The bilateral investments between Qatar and Turkey reached around 30 billion U.S. dollars despite the ongoing embargo imposed on Qatar by its Gulf neighbors, local media reported on Thursday.
The remarks were made by the senior officials representing the Turkey-based Supreme Council for Businessmen in the Middle East (SCBME), who are currently visiting Doha, Qatar-tribune newspaper said.
"There are many more areas in which Qatar and Turkey can explore investment opportunities. Once these new areas are covered, the trade volume between the two countries will see a substantial increase," the President of SCBME Ahmed Yabroudi said.
The Turkish envoy also announced that with collaboration with Qatar Chamber (QC), one of the oldest chambers of commerce in the countries of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a commercial conference will be held for Arab and Turkish businessmen in October.
When the current Gulf crisis broke out on June 5, 2017, Turkey sent rapid dispatch to Qatar including food supplies.
Meanwhile, on June 7, 2017, the Turkish parliament ratified a bilateral defense bill previously signed with Qatar.
Qatar became home to a Turkish military base, which the Saudi-led bloc have demanded Doha close, as well as the U.S. military's largest air base in the region, al-Udeid.
Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt cut ties with Qatar on June 5, 2017, over unsubstantiated claims that it has backed extremism and fostered relations with Iran.
Doha denied the allegations.
