RIYADH: Bilateral cooperation between Saudi Arabia and Turkiye is poised to expand in the fields of real estate, infrastructure, and waste management as ministers convene in Istanbul. During the three-day official tour running until July 4, Saudi Arabia’s Minister of Municipal, Rural Affairs, and Housing, Majid bin Abdullah Al-Hogail, is scheduled to meet with various officials and companies in Turkiye to explore opportunities for enhancing cooperation and investment in these sectors. This comes against the backdrop of active ministerial engagements aimed at boosting cooperation, with Saudi Arabia and Turkiye seeing their bilateral trade surpass SR26 billion ($6.93 billion) in 2023. The Saudi real estate market is rapidly advancing with ambitious urban development projects and substantial infrastructure investments, attracting global interest while emphasizing sustainability and innovation. On arrival in Istanbul, the minister met with the Turkiye Presidency’s Investment Office Chief, Burak Daglıoglu, to discuss fostering bilateral cooperation. Al-Hogail emphasized the deep and strong relations between Saudi Arabia and Turkiye, commending their robust commercial ties and joint investments. He underscored the Kingdom’s openness to all companies and expertise in diverse development sectors. Highlighting the experience and capabilities of Turkish investment companies in real estate, waste management, and recycling, Al-Hogail noted their suitability for the Saudi market and welcomed their interest in investing in these sectors. Furthermore, cooperation between the two countries goes beyond economy as the Saudi Minister of Defense, Prince Khalid bin Salman, met with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan at the Presidential Palace in Ankara on July 2. During the meeting, Prince Khalid and the president reviewed relations between the Kingdom and Turkiye and ways to enhance them. They also discussed regional and international developments and efforts made with regard to them. Later on the day, Prince Khalid was received by his Turkish counterpart Yasar Guler at the Ministry of National Defense in Ankara. During the meeting, aspects of Saudi-Turkish relations were discussed. Ways to continue strengthening and developing existing and future cooperation paths between the ministries of defense in the two countries were also reviewed. Defense cooperation between the two nations was also evident in high-level talks on military capabilities, technology transfer, and scientific research development in January. The bilateral committee involving the two countries convened its fourth meeting in Istanbul on Jan. 15, according to the Kingdom’s Ministry of Defense. The meeting was attended by Saudi Assistant Minister of Defense Talal bin Abdullah Al-Otaibi, Turkish Deputy Minister of Defense Celal Sami Tufekci, and President of Turkiye’s Defense Industry Agency Haluk Gorgun. Saudi Arabia’s Ambassador to Turkiye Fahd bin Asaad Abu Al-Nasr also joined the attendees, along with specialists from the Saudi Ministry of Defense, the General Authority for Military Industries, the General Authority for Defense Development, and Saudi Military Industries — an affiliate of the Public Investment Fund. Meanwhile, Al-Otaibi visited Turkiye’s leading drone manufacturer Baykar. He discussed the existing cooperation between his ministry and the Turkish company.