Saeed Al Khotani Saudi Gazette JEDDAH – A joined agreement will be signed soon between the Turkish city of Bursa and the two holy cities of Makkah and Madinah, Governor of Bursa Province Shahabettin Harput told a delegation of journalists representing Saudi newspapers who visited the city last week in a familiarization trip organized by the governorate, in collaboration with the Turkish consulate in Jeddah and Turkish airlines. “Our efforts to make this twinning a reality stems from the profound respect and strong yearn of Turkey, generally and Bursa, in particular, to those two holy cities, and our aspiration to have links with them in various fields, “ he said. The governor added that Bursa will be this year, 2013, the capital of Arab and Muslim tourism, according a the decision made last year by the member states of Jeddah based Arab Tourism Organization, an affiliate of League of Arab States. He added that Bursa, once was the first capital of the Ottoman Caliphate for decades, is the fourth largest city in Turkey. “Though, it is the largest single economic and industrial contributor to the Turkish economy, especially in the fields of tourism and industry. It almost provides the nation with more than half of its production and national income,” he said. “Bursa contribution to the national economy of Turkey includes manufactures 60 percent of the vehicle, 70 percent of textile and ready-made clothes, 70 percent of battled water, in addition to being a center for silk production. It exports annually products worth $30 billion out of the total Turkey exports of $155 billion,” he added. Because of this high status in the Turkish economy, Governor Harput said it is a pleasure to invite Arab brothers, especially the Saudis, to invest in his province, particularly in the fields it has competitive edge like tourism, mineral waters, and textiles. Also, because its high reserve of mineral waters and the increasing demand by the elderly from Western European countries who are paid from their governments to receiving mineral water therapy abroad for 20 days, Governor Harput pointed out that his province is in its way to be transformed into a world class center for mineral water therapy. “To achieve this, a special village resort will be established and the number of beds in mineral water therapeutic services facilities will be increased to 17,000 beds. We hope that Saudis will follow the Europeans in benefiting from these facilities, instead of going to other far-away destination for such services,” he said. “To promote tourism and direct flow of passengers to the airport of the city of Bursa, without a need to pass by Istanbul airport, we will intensify our effort to collect the required capital for the establishment of a private airline,” he said.
