BSANNA News (Black Sea Association of National News Agencies)

Turkey wants to sign free trade agreement with Ukraine

29 November 2010

KYIV, November 29. /UKRINFORM/. Turkey is interested in expanding economic cooperation with Ukraine and introducing the visa-free regime between the two countries, Turkish Minister of Industry and Commerce Nihat Ergun has said at the Black Sea Economic Forum in Yalta, an UKRINFORM correspondent reported.

"We expect that the balance of trade between Ukraine and Turkey will be USD 5 billion this year and that next year it will reach the 2008 level of USD 8 billion," the minister said.

Nihat Ergun said that Turkey and Ukraine should switch to the visa-free regime to boost Turkish investments in Crimea.

He said that the simplification of the visa regime would increase the flow of tourists from Ukraine to Turkey, whereas the cancellation of visas would allow many tourists from Turkey to come not only to Crimea, but also to other regions of the country.

Nihat Ergun also said he saw great prospects for the creation of joint Ukrainian-Turkish companies in the sphere of construction, tourism and energy, including through non-conventional energy sources.

According to the Turkish minister, the signing of an agreement on free trade between Ukraine and Turkey will also help increase trade turnover between the two countries and favor their economic growth.