Turkish ambassador visits Cebu

CEBU, Philippines - Esra Cankoru, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Turkey to the Philippines, was in Cebu June 7 to 9 to strengthen trade linkages and look for emerging trade opportunities in the Queen City of the South.

It was Ambassador Cankoru’s first official visit to Cebu since she was installed as the new Turkish Ambassador on April 2014.

During her first official visit in Cebu, Ambassador Cankoru was accompanied by Ambassadior Francisco L. Benedicto, former Philippine ambassador, Mr. Angel D. Espiritu Sr., Protocol Consultant of Cebu City, and Dr. Angel H. Espiritu II, D.P.A., Ph.D., Protocol Officer of the Department of Foreign Affairs-Cebu.

Ambassador Cankoru’s visit began with a meeting with the members of of the Cebu Travel and Tours Association (CTTA) led by its president, Ms. Sheila Colemanares where the ambassador briefed the CTTA on Turkish culture and the historical sites of Turkey.

Ambassador Cankoru also made courtesy calls to Governor Hilario Davide III and Mayor Michael Rama. In her visit to Mayor Rama, Ambassador Cankoru proposed a sister-city agreement with Cebu City and the city of Izmir in Turkey to promote the business relationship between the two cities.

The members of the Cebu Chamber of Commerce and Mandaue Chamber of Commerce and their respective presidents, Ms. Tess Chan and Mr. Philip Chan respectively had discussions with the ambassador on initiating trade missions to Turkey in order to engage in healthy business exchanges between the business chambers of the two countries.

Since Cebu is known for its furniture industry, Ambasador Cankoru visited the furniture plants of Kenneth Cobonpue, Vito Selma and DEDON. (FREEMAN)