Turkey keen to invest in Make-In-India initiative: Envoy

Turkish Ambassador Burak Akcapar said on Tuesday his country is keen to invest in Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Make-In-India campaign, particularly in the manufacturing and construction sectors.

"We are looking into the possible opportunities in the context of Make-in-India but no concrete step has been taken. We are looking forward to receiving information and possible visits from India to explain the objectives to which we can contribute," Akcapar told the media here.

He was speaking on the sidelines of the launch of his book 'People's Mission to the Ottoman Empire: M.A. Ansari and the Indian Medical Mission, 1912-13' at the Oxford Bookstore on Monday.

Reiterating his country's commitment to a strategic and a "warm" relation with India, the envoy said the key areas of focus would be the manufacturing and construction sectors.

"Turkey can contribute in many respects to the manufacturing capabilities of India. We have a very strong manufacturing sector. Many things that India imports from the world, we are actually exporting," he said.

"We are also strong in infrastructure and construction sectors. Since these two go together, there are many opportunities for Turkey in India but we need India to tell its story also to the Turkish business people," he added.

Modi's likely visit to Turkey either this year or next year will provide the apt chance to discuss its participation in 'Make-In-India' campaign, according to Akcapar.

"We are looking forward to the honourable prime minister's visit, if not this year then maybe next year. That will be the right opportunity to discuss all these issues," he said.

Akcapar said Modi's bilateral visit will be the first by an Indian prime minister to Turkey after a gap of 13 years.

In the last four years, five ministerial visits took place and the Indian vice-president visited Turkey after 13 years and the president of India visited Turkey in 2014 after 15 years.

In addition to strengthening political and economic ties, Akcapar said Turkey is keen to expand avenues in civil aviation and tourism and a bilateral visit would further cement the agenda.

Quizzed on whether Modi's forthcoming bilateral visit to Israel will have any effects on Indo-Turkish relations, the diplomat said relations with a third country would not impact the two countries' relationship.

"I don't think Israel figures in Turkish-Indian bilateral relations. We have a very concrete agenda with India as a friendly country," he said.

"We are looking forward to the visit of the honourable (Indian) prime minister to Turkey for G20 summit and we are expecting ministers of external affairs of both countries to sign documents that would kind of chart the way ahead for the relationship and there is a lot of things to be done between the two friendly countries and any third country doesn't figure," he added.