DOHA, June 4 (Xinhua) -- Qatar and Turkey held meetings to discuss new bilateral trade routes, to overcome economic blockade imposed on Qatar by its Gulf neighbors, Qatar-based English newspaper Gulf Times said.
On a sideline of the meetings, held between members of Turkey's Eastern Anatolian Exporters' Association (DAIB) and their Qatari counterparts in Doha, the DAIB Chief of Section Sadi Kelesoglu stressed the need of establishing new trade routes.
Such new routes aim to face the challenges of transportation costs and extended delivery schedules caused by the ongoing embargo, Kelesoglu added.
"Creating new trade routes seems to be essential for Qatar to secure food supply at fair prices," the report said, quoting Kelesoglu.
He said that the two countries would sign a trade agreement to boost bilateral trade in the food and beverage industry.
During the meetings, about eight Turkish companies from DAIB and 27 Qatari firms held talks to explore new channels of economic cooperation between the two countries.
Turkey has been a major supporter of Doha since the four Arab countries led by Saudi Arabia severed land, air and sea links to Qatar on June 5, last year. Turkey had sent essential goods to Qatar, especially products to cover food shortage.
