Despite closed borders, Armenia-Turkey trade turnover exceeds $200 million, Turkish-Armenian Business Development Council (TABDC) co-chair Kaan Soymak told Bianet news agency. NEWS.am quotes Soymak referring to Bianet website.

In his interview to Bianet, Soymak touched upon Armenian-Turkish trade relations and TABDC members, however was reluctant to disclose the names and companies as “Azerbaijan would put them on their black list right away.”

Asked about the TABDC contribution to bilateral business development, Soymak said: “We provide a significant contribution. When we initially established the council the trade volume via the third countries added up to $50 million, whereas nowadays the trade volume amounts to more than $200 million. Furthermore, sellers and buyers got to know each other. The most important achievement is the Armenian Diaspora participating in the trade between the two countries. A part of the Diaspora Armenians also support the opening of the borders now. That way they would be able to do business themselves. While many Turkish people formerly did not even venture to enter Armenia, nowadays you see Turkish business people in Yerevan doing business on different scales. It had a crucial effect on business relations that the TABDC broke this taboo. Apart from that we receive dozens of messages every day from business people from either countries. We provide them with information related to their sector and introduce them to &‘prospective’ business partners.”

Soymak also pointed out that “when people come side by side and get to know each other and even more important, when they can do business together, they manage very well to leave historical and political obstinacy aside. We will solve historical and political problems by converging towards each other.”