The Turkish consulate in Hyderabad, the first in South India, became operational on Sunday.
Speaking on the occasion, Union Labour Minister Bandaru Dattatreya welcomed the opening of the consulate in the city, and said that it would serve the states of Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Kerala, Goa and Chattisgarh.
He said that Turkey and Hyderabad shared a lot of similarities in their cultures, and hoped that the consulate would play a major role in strengthening these old ties.
He said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was in favour of having stronger ties with Turkey and other Arab countries, and that the consulate was expected to play an active role in that direction.
He promised that the consulate would be provided with all the required infrastructure, and that he would personally represent the matter to the Union foreign affairs minister Sushma Swaraj.
Turkish Consul General Murat Omergulu informed that nearly 40 million tourists visited Turkey every year. They include about 1.20 lakh tourists from India.
He said that May and September were the best months to visit Turkey.
He expressed hope that the new consulate would play a role in increasing the relations between the two countries, especially in the tourism, health and IT sectors.
Tollywood actress Lakshmi Manchu became the first person to be issued a visa by the Turkish consulate in Hyderabad. Thanking the consulate for the gesture, she offered to play a role in strengthening the ties between Turkey and Telangana.
Visa Officer Sevil Yildiz and Canopy Estates Director Mir Mujahid Ali Mahmood also addressed the gathering. (INN)