ISTANBUL - State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said on Friday that trade with Bulgaria would increase thanks to common goals.
Speaking in the dinner hosted by Turkish-Bulgarian Business Council, Tuzmen said that Bulgaria was rapidly growing and noted that the inflation in Bulgaria was around four percent.
Tuzmen noted that the growth rate was around five percent in Bulgaria.
''Bulgaria succeeds in attracting foreign investors. We also want to take our place in this successful tableau of Bulgaria. There are 2 thousand 500 Turkish companies in Bulgaria while there are only 36 Bulgarian companies in Turkey. This means that we have to work more. Trade volume of 1.3 billion U.S. dollars can't be underestimated,'' Tuzmen said.
Tuzmen expressed belief that two billion U.S. dollars of a trade volume with Bulgaria was a trade volume which could be realized, adding that it could be reached if Turkish and Bulgarian businessmen worked more this year.
Bulgarian-Turkish Business Council Chairman Bojidar Bojinov said that two countries had very friendly relations and expressed belief that Bulgarian companies would invest in Turkey.
Bojinov stated that the Foreign Ministry promised them to solve visa problems of businessmen without the need to apply to the consulate buildings.
(BRC) 12.03.2004