The Lord Mayor of London, global ambassador for the UK’s financial and professional services industry, is visiting Istanbul at the head of a business delegation this week to strengthen trade links with the City of London.

Charles Bowman, the Lord Mayor, will meet government and business leaders, regulators, and trade bodies in Istanbul in a visit focussed around deepening business ties between London and Turkey. The Lord Mayor’s visit will include meetings with representatives from the Turkish fintech sector, significant Turkish investors, and the British Chamber of Commerce in Turkey.

Lord Mayor Bowman, the 690th incumbent of a role that dates back centuries, is the leader of London’s ‘Square Mile,’ or financial district, and has visited some 27 countries over the course of his year in office. Charles Bowman is an accountant by profession and is a Senior Partner at PwC in London.

Accompanying the Lord Mayor on his visit to Turkey is a senior delegation of City of London figures representing leading City industries such as fintech, asset management, and private equity.

Commenting on his visit to Turkey, Charles Bowman, the Lord Mayor of London said:

“I’ve been looking forward to visiting Turkey, a long-term strategic partner for the City of London, since I took office last year.

“I’m keen to discuss UK-Turkey business relations with senior government and business representatives in Istanbul, particularly focussing on how the UK and Turkey can partner to spur on mutual growth. Of particular interest are the fields of infrastructure and Islamic Finance, fintech, and asset management.

“The UK and Turkey already have a strong trading relationship, and I’m sure our business relationships can still deepen and grow in the years to come.”

The Lord Mayor’s visit will have a strong focus on innovation, and how financial and professional services can support the growth of start-ups in fields such as fintech.

The Lord Mayor is expected to speak at Deloitte’s ‘Doing Business with the UK’ conference where he will speak about the strength of the City of London, and opportunities for UK-Turkey collaboration.

The Lord Mayor will be tweeting from @CityLordMayor during his visit.

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Notes to editors

The City of London Corporation is the governing body of the Square Mile dedicated to a vibrant and thriving City, supporting a diverse and sustainable London within a globally-successful UK. www.cityoflondon.gov.uk

For more information contact:

Nathan Rodgers, Financial Services Media Officer

0207 332 3451

nathan.rodgers@cityoflondon.gov.uk