Turkey aims to sign free trade deal with ASEAN members
World Bulletin | Friday, 19 September 2008
Turkey aims to sign free trade deal with ASEAN members
Tuzmen said Turkey was planning to organize a visit of trade delegation to Indonesia, invite trade delegations from Indonesia, organize a Turkish exports products fair in Jakarta, establish consultation mechanism.
Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said on Thursday that Turkey targeted to boost its actual 1.5 billion USD trade volume with Indonesia to 5 billion USD as a first step.
Speaking at a meeting with Indonesian Trade Minister Mari Elka Pangestu, currently in Turkey to attend Turkey-Indonesia Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meeting, Tuzmen said, "Turkey purchases raw materials from Indonesia. Steps should be taken towards a more balanced trade."
Tuzmen said Turkey expressed its views to sign free trade agreement with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) member countries, indicating that serious initiatives may be launched within the scope of Asia-Pacific strategies.
Tuzmen said Turkey was planning to start comprehensive trade partnership process, organize a visit of trade delegation to Indonesia, invite trade delegations from Indonesia, organize a Turkish exports products fair in Jakarta, establish consultation mechanism.
Indonesian minister Pangestu said they could obtain tangible results from the JEC meeting, and noted that trade volume between Turkey and Indonesia was boosting gradually.
Pangestu said Turkey and Indonesia would reach 2 billion USD trade volume by the end of this year.
Pangestu said his country was considering Turkey a gate opening to Europe, and noted that similarly Indonesia was a gate for Turkey opening to the ASEAN region.
AA
