Al-Rabiah added that trade centers between the two countries would provide a good opportunity to stimulate and develop trade. He said they were interested in establishing high-quality trade, combating counterfeit and adulterated goods, and facilitating commerce between the countries. They would conduct a detailed analysis of the proposal, he said.
Informed sources said the planned trade centers would differ from free zones. Products from both countries would be displayed with certain tax facilities, while Saudi goods could be sold to Europe through Turkey and Turkish goods to Middle Eastern countries through Saudi Arabia.
Officials from both countries were expected to begin discussing the technical work involved in establishing the centers, according to Anadolu Agency.
The Saudi king arrived in Ankara on Monday afternoon and was welcomed at Esenboga Airport by Erdogan, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and other officials at an official ceremony.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud held official talks at the presidential palace in Ankara. They stressed the importance of continuing meetings across different fields to serve mutual interests and said the discussions would produce fruitful results that strengthen strategic relations.
Turkish Customs and Trade Minister Bulent Tufenkci proposed the trade centers during a meeting with Saudi Commerce and Industry Minister Tawfiq bin Fawzan al-Rabiah, who was accompanying King Salman on the official visit to Turkey.
Anadolu Agency quoted Tufenkci as saying that he and al-Rabiah had discussed cooperation opportunities and the development of economic and commercial relations. He said he had proposed the centers to increase bilateral trade.
Al-Rabiah said Saudi Arabia was interested in all initiatives that could develop trade relations with Turkey and that establishing trade centers was particularly important.