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Russia’s leading business figure, Aleksandr Shohin, has said that while Russians feel comfortable in Türkiye, both countries are not fully realizing the potential of their business relations.
Speaking to Anadolu Agency (AA) on the sidelines of the Verona Eurasian Economic Forum in Istanbul, Shohin, president of the Russian Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs (RSPP), highlighted the strong ties between the two neighbors.
“Türkiye is one of Russia’s most important neighbors. Although we are sometimes competitors, Türkiye stands out as our economic partner. More than half of Russians’ hotel reservations abroad are in Türkiye, and Russia is a big country. People love Türkiye,” Shohin said.
Shohin emphasized that trade cooperation between Russia and Türkiye could be developed further.
“Russians feel comfortable in Türkiye, but when it comes to business relations, we are not fully using the potential of our relationship,” he said.
Despite recent challenges, he added that relations between the two countries have continued to progress successfully.
“Even though there have been difficult periods recently, we at RSPP believe that relations with Türkiye should continue to develop,” Shohin noted.
To strengthen bilateral economic relations, Shohin suggested creating suitable working groups under the Russia–Türkiye High-Level Cooperation Council.
“It is important to clarify the business environment in both countries as much as possible. Our tax and investment mechanisms operate a little differently,” he said.
He also called for more support for entrepreneurs from both sides. “Whether Russian or Turkish, entrepreneurs should be able to start their business activities immediately when they come to Türkiye or Russia.
They should know which doors to knock on and how to work with federal and regional authorities,” Shohin stated.
Shohin, who also heads the supervisory board of the Russian Regional Agencies Association, said both sides were using regional and development agencies to attract investment.
“We clearly see the results of Türkiye’s projects in Russia. Turkish construction companies are very active,” he said.
He added that Istanbul Airport plays an important role for Russian travelers.
“Since there are no direct flights to Europe at the moment, we use this airport as a transfer hub. I think every Russian entrepreneur is familiar with the new Istanbul Airport,” he said.
Emphasizing the durability of bilateral ties, Shohin concluded: “When relations face small disruptions, it becomes easier to build long-term cooperation because we already know how to overcome minor obstacles.”
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