#News

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Apr 23, 2012
Private Meeting Between Prince Alwaleed & Prime Minister Erdoğan of Turkey

A private meeting was held between HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Alsaud, Chairman of Kingdom Holding Company (KHC), Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan of Turkey during Prince Alwaleed’s trip to Bursa, Turkey. During their meeting, the PM and Prince Alwaleed discussed issues and HRH’s investments in Turkey through KHC.

His Highness has investments in hotel management companies through Kingdom Holding Company that manage the following 8 hotels in different locations in #Turkey:

1- Four Seasons Hotel at the Bosphorus

2- Four Seasons Hotel Sultanahmet

3- Mövenpick Hotel Istanbul

4- Mövenpick Hotel Izmir

5- Mövenpick Hotel Bodrum

6- Swissotel Istanbul

7- Swissotel Ankara

8- Swissotel Grand Efes Izmir

Moreover, Kingdom Holding has a presence in the financial and media sectors in Turkey through:

1- Citigroup

2- 20% of AKBANK with an acquisition through Citigroup

3- Fox Turkey channel through News Corporation

Furthermore during the trip, Prince Alwaleed and Prime Minister Erdoğan inaugurated the 1st Turk - Arab Tourism Meeting. Prince Awaleed was accompanied by Ms. Heba Fatani, Senior Executive Manager, Corporate Communications Department and Dr. Nahla Alanbar, Private Executive Assistant to HRH the Chairman. Morover, the 1st Turk - Arab Tourism Meeting is under PM Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s patronage.

The event was attended by royals, VIP’s, dignitaries and members of the regional and international media. Also, Prince Alwaleed attended a luncheon in honor of PM Erdoğan.

The conference aims primarily to raise the tourism, knowledge and experience exchange between Arab countries, Turkey and other Islamic countries in addition to contributing to development of human resource to reduce the unemployment.

The 1st Turk - Arab Tourism was sponsored by the Saudi Research and Marketing Group (SRMG) in which Prince Alwaleed through KHC owns a 29.9% stake. The publications that fall under SRMG include Asharq Al Awsat, Al Eqtisadiah, Arab News, Hia magazine, Al Majalla magazine, Arrajol magazine and Sayidati magazine. Furthermore, other entities that fall under SRMG are Al Khaleejiya for Publicity Advertising and Public Relations and Al Madina Printing and Publishing Company.

In 2009, His Excellency Turkish President Abdullah Gul hosted a luncheon in honor of Prince Alwaleed at the presidential palace in capital Ankara during the Prince’s trip to Turkey. During their meeting, the President and Prince Alwaleed discussed bilateral relations between Saudi Arabia and Turkey, and other issues of interest to both countries, mainly the economy. The President and His Highness also probed investment opportunities in Turkey. The Turkish President said the country was aiming at increasing foreign investments especially in tourism, a main source of income for Turkey and welcomed the Prince to consider further investing in Turkey. HRH thanked President Gul for his hospitality.

In addition, HRH also met with Prime Minister Erdoğan during the 2009 trip at the office of the PM in Ankara. In 2007, the Prince received the PM and his wife Mrs. Emine Erdoğan, and an accompanying delegation at Kingdom Resort and hosted a luncheon in honor of his guest. The two also met in Jeddah in 2005.