Hendrik Wüst concludes three-day official visit to Turkey

Hendrik Wüst, the Minister-President of North Rhine-Westphalia, has concluded a three-day official visit to Turkey. The trip, which commemorated the 65th anniversary of the German-Turkish recruitment agreement, included high-level meetings in Ankara with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and several ministers, as well as meetings in Istanbul.

During the visit, Wüst addressed the political situation in Turkey, expressing support for the opposition and civil society. He emphasized the importance of discussing human rights and the legal pressures facing political figures, such as former Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, in official settings. Wüst stated that meeting with these groups is a necessary part of an official function to ensure their concerns are conveyed.

On the economic front, the visit focused on strengthening ties between North Rhine-Westphalia and Turkish businesses. Wüst and German officials announced an expansion of visa facilitation procedures for Turkish business travelers to reduce administrative delays. Additionally, several economic agreements were signed to promote trade and investment, including cooperation between the ports of Duisburg and Istanbul and between the airports of Cologne/Bonn and Sabiha Gökçen.