Germany vows to defend firms doing business in Turkey

BERLIN - Reuters

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It is extremely difficult for German companies to make investments in Turkey under the current political climate in the country, German Economy Minister Brigitte Zypries said on July 20.

“If respectable German companies are suddenly put on ‘black lists’ and branded as supporters of terrorism then this amounts to a climate that makes new business and investments in Turkey extremely difficult,” Zypries said.

She added: “The German government and I would of course defend German companies from totally unjustifiable and incomprehensible accusations. This also applies above all to the employees of German companies.”

Uncertainty among German companies has been felt significantly since the failed putsch, DIHK foreign trade chief Volker Treier told Reuters after Germany cast doubt on Turkey’s aspirations to join the European Union and issued new travel advice warning of risks to German citizens there.

“The current developments considerably augment this insecurity,” Treier added. 

“In this environment it is hard to think about German companies making new investments in Turkey.”