A Turkish Steel Industry Assessment Mission will visit Pakistan in early March this year to have first hand knowledge about the available business and investment opportunities. This was stated by Kerim Dilber, the head of two-member Turkish delegation that called on LCCI Senior Vice President Kashif Younis Meher here at the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry on Wednesday. LCCI former Executive Committee Members Javaid Iqbal Mughal, Mian Zahid Javaid and Turkish delegate Ms Emine Aksu also spoke on the occasion. Mr Kerim Dilber said that the during their stay in Pakistan, the members of the Assessment Mission would hold meetings with Steel Industry personnel for initiating Joint Ventures in Pakistan. He said that a second Turkish delegation also from the Steel Industry would also visit Pakistan as soon as the first delegation completes its findings. Giving a briefing about Turkish Steel Sector, Kerim Dilber said that Turkey has become the 10th biggest producer globally and 2nd largest steel producer in Europe. In fact, Turkey was the third fastest growing steel producer in the world between the period 2001 and 2010 after China and India. Steel production in Turkey has increased significantly since 2001, growing from 15 million tons in 2001 to 29.1 million tonnes in 2010. Growth of the industry in Turkey has been driven in part by strong domestic consumption. Within the five years period between 2005 – 2010 per capita crude steel consumption in Turkey has increased to 340 kg, and is expected to continue to grow in the medium and long term. In addition to the strong domestic demand and dynamic steel consuming industries, Turkey’s well placed geographical position also supports exports and thus production.
