Turkey upbeat on Sri Lanka Megapolis

Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen meets Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım (right) on 12 November in Istanbul.

Turkey, the world’s second ranked construction economy, came forward on 12 November to partner with Sri Lanka’s ambitious Megapolis Project, with Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım declaring his country’s wishes to partner in various constructions projects in the island.

“Turkish contractors are world renowned. They can partner in various construction projects in Sri Lanka including the planned Megapolis,” Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım on 12 November in Istanbul. Turkish PM Yıldırım was addressing Sri Lanka’s Minister of Industry and Commerce Rishad Bathiudeen who made a courtesy call on him in the aftermath of his successful second session of the Sri Lanka-Turkey Joint Committee Meeting of Technical and Economic Cooperation (JCMTEC) in Ankara the previous day. Minister Bathiudeen led the Lankan delegation to Ankara, where he was joined by (HE) Sri Lankan Ambassador in Turkey P. M. Hamza.

According to the Department of Commerce, bilateral trade between Turkey and Sri Lanka stood at $230 million in 2015.

“I appreciate that a Lankan Cabinet Minister is officially calling on me for the first time in this way. We are pleased of the progress made by the new Unity government in Sri Lanka,” said  Premier Yıldırım, adding: “Sri Lanka and Turkey have cordial and historic relations. Today is an important day in this ongoing bilateral history since, after 26 years, both countries are reopening trade talks in Ankara and thereby entering a new era. I have been informed of the successful JCMTEC session in Ankara and I am pleased to inform you that we shall be formulating a team of high level Turkish officials to oversee the progress of this JCMTEC as well. We see Sri Lanka not only as a hub in South Asia but as an attractive tourist destination as well. Turkish construction contractors are world renowned. They can partner in various construction projects in Sri Lanka -including the planned Megapolis of Sri Lanka. We are ready to partner.” 

The Megapolis project was launched in January 2016 and is expected to be completed in 15 years at an estimated $270 million. 

“During our Ankara session, both sides agreed to take our bilateral trade to $500 million by 2020. I invite Turkish investors and businesses to partner with Sri Lanka and take advantage of the hub positioning that Sri Lanka offers to enter the growing South Asian market. Your proposed appointment of a team of Turkish officials on ‘JCMTEC way forward’ shows your keenness on our bilateral trade, and I commend it,” said Minister Bathiudeen, adding: “We welcome Turkey contractors to partner in Sri Lanka’s projects and invite representatives from the Turkish contractor community to visit Sri Lanka and see. I shall take the message of Turkish contractors’ interest on Sri Lanka’s Megapolis back home to our Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe. I also wish to invite a strong trade delegation to Sri Lanka with your esteemed participation to further strengthen bilateral ties that have just been revived by this JCMTEC. I and my Ministry officials shall extend our fullest cooperation to representatives including contractors from Turkey.” 

Minister Bathiudeen and Turkish PM Yıldırım also discussed other avenues of bilateral cooperation.

According to the latest ranking of the world’s top 250 contractors by Engineering News Record (ENR) magazine, after China (which leads the ranking), Turkey is the second largest economy whose contracting companies build “the largest volume of projects across the world outside their home countries.” 

This is the ninth year in a row that Turkey has been ranked second in this global ranking.