ISTANBUL , Dec 13  — Malaysian Ambassador to Turkey Datuk Saipul Anuar Abd Muin has expressed hope that the economic ties between Malaysia and Turkey would result in more bilateral investment and trade.

“Malaysia always offers opportunities for Turkish investors and businesses while opportunities are always open to Malaysian investors in Turkey,” he told Bernama here today.

Saipul Anuar was met when meeting a delegation of 30 students and several officials from Universiti Malaysia Perlis (UniMAP) on a five-day educational visit to Turkey.

Trade between the two countries stands at US$1 billion (RM3.2 billion) with the balance in Malaysia's favour. Malaysian investments include Khazanah Nasional Bhd's US$700 million investment in Turkey's largest healthcare provider Acibadem Saglic Yagtirimlari Holdings AS (ASYH).

Saipul Anuar said while Malaysia hosts 300 Turkish students, only 20 Malaysians are studying in Turkey, although this number could rise if more Malaysians learnt Turkish.

Also present was Malaysian honorary consul Datuk Cevdet Sefer.

The delegation has visited several Turkish universities, where they met student leaders, as well as museums and mosques.

Since 2005, the annual UniMAP programme has been held in Indonesia, Vietnam, China, Hong Kong, Uzbekistan, Australia and New Zealand. — Bernama