The Turkish government announced this year its plans to expand its cooperation with China. Turkish businesses are eager to tap into the massive Chinese market as well. Many of them see the China International Import Expo to be held in November as a great opportunity for that. Our correspondent Michal Bardavid reports.

Dozens of companies from Turkey are to participate in the China International Import Expo "CIIE" to be held in November from several industries including textile, home appliances, tourism, food and jewelry.

MICHAL BARDAVID ISTANBUL "One giant corporation attending the CIIE is Turkey's Ata Holding which is participating with five of their companies in different industries. Their quick service restaurant company Tab Food Investment (TFI) is the master franchisee of Burger King both in Turkey and in China. They have opened over 900 TFI restaurants since 2012 when they first invested in China, and now employ over 20,000 people in the country."

One of their companies attending the CIIE operates within the tourism industry. They forecast there will be a rise in the number of Chinese tourists travelling to Turkey, and they hope to increase their brand awareness with the CIIE.

KORHAN KURDOGLU CHAIRMAN OF EXECUTIVE BOARD, ATA HOLDING "We have a tourism agency, Arbeta, we believe that the tourists from the country will increase enormously, it's already doubled from last year, and it's only a miniscule part of the whole outside tourism of China, so there's a huge potential."

Ata holding officials believe that companies who attend the CIIE will see the benefits in the near future.

KORHAN KURDOGLU CHAIRMAN OF EXECUTIVE BOARD, ATA HOLDING "We believe the Chinese people are really receptive and they are looking at this opportunity and they remember the participations and the rewards will come through that."

TFI officials emphasize that due to recent steps taken by the Chinese government to encourage an open world economy, it is the right time to do business with China.

KORHAN KURDOGLU CHAIRMAN OF EXECUTIVE BOARD, ATA HOLDING "We believe that with the economic integration of the Belt and Road initiative, it will be enhancing and growing further as each year passes, so if you take the opportunity from the beginning you can create much bigger values."

Another Turkish company that will be attending the CIIE is Gonul Kahvesi which produces Turkish coffee and has over 800 branches in Turkey. The company intends to spread a love for Turkish coffee, a product woven in the country's culture, across the globe.

YAMAN YARDIMCI CHAIRMAN OF EXECUTIVE BOARD, GONUL KAHVESI "I hope that with positive connections we can find a suitable partner and operate with a master franchise system. By connecting with the right partner in China we hope to open many Gonul Kahvesi branches in China."

Turkey's national flag carrier – Turkish Airlines is also among the companies that will be participating in the CIIE. Michal Bardavid, CGTN, Istanbul.