PTBU Delegation Pays Official Visit to Istanbul Immigration Directorate: Strengthening Institutional Cooperation and Addressing Issues Faced by Palestinian Investors
As part of ongoing efforts to strengthen institutional collaboration with Turkish authorities, a delegation from the Board of Directors of the Palestinian-Turkish Businessmen’s Union (PTBU) , headed by Chairman Of The Board Mahmud Sughayer, paid an official visit to the Istanbul Immigration Directorate. They were received by Mr. Serdar Dal, Deputy Director General of the Immigration Directorate, along with several high-ranking officials.
The visiting PTBU delegation included:
– Mahmud Sughayer – Chairman Of The Board
– Issa Ramazanoglu – Vice Chairman Of The Board
– Ahmad Zatari – Finance Officer
– Bassam Al-Haj – International Relations Officer
– Ahmet Agaoglu – Public Relations & Media Officer
At the beginning of the meeting, Mr. Serdar Dal warmly welcomed the delegation and praised the PTBU’s constructive role in building bridges of cooperation and strengthening economic and social ties between the Turkish and Palestinian peoples. He emphasized the importance of such visits in fostering mutual understanding and direct dialogue.
For his part, Mr. Mahmud Sughayer expressed his gratitude for the warm reception and appreciation for the ongoing efforts of the Immigration Directorate in facilitating matters related to foreign residents, particularly those affecting union members and Palestinian businesspeople.
During the meeting, Mr. Sughayer introduced the delegation and gave an overview of the union’s accomplishments over the past fourteen years, highlighting successful efforts to support Palestinian investments and enhance economic presence. He also underlined PTBU’s role in developing institutional relationships between Palestinian and Turkish business communities.
He further pointed to the union’s humanitarian initiatives in support of the Turkish people during times of crisis, notably:
– The rehabilitation of a damaged school in Kahramanmaraş Province
– The dispatch of a three-truck humanitarian aid convoy to earthquake victims following the February 2023 disaster — a gesture reflecting the deep brotherly ties between both peoples.
The PTBU delegation also raised several pressing concerns faced by its members and other Palestinian entrepreneurs — especially regarding residency permits and immigration-related procedures — and called for flexible, law-abiding solutions that consider humanitarian and professional needs.
Mr. Serdar Dal expressed his pleasure with the visit, reaffirming the special attention Turkish institutions give to Palestinian businesspeople. He promised full cooperation in addressing their challenges and emphasized the need to continue such coordination meetings in the future.
At the conclusion of the visit, Mr. Mahmud Sughayer presented a shield of appreciation on behalf of PTBU to Mr. Serdar Dal, in recognition of the Immigration Directorate’s constructive collaboration and commitment to strengthening fraternal ties between the Turkish and Palestinian peoples.
