ENERGY AND NATURAL RESOURCES MINISTER: A FREE TRADE AGREEMENT CAN BE SIGNED BETWEEN OUR COUNTRIES
ANKARA - Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler has said, ''a free trade agreement can be signed between Turkey and Moldova in line with Turkey's commitments to the European Union (EU) and in parallel with Moldova's relations with the EU.''
The second term meeting of Turkey-Moldova Joint Economic Commission (JEC) started in Ankara on Tuesday under the co-chairmanship of Energy and Natural Resources Minister Guler and Industry Minister Mihail Garstea of Moldova.
Speaking at the meeting, Guler said, ''Turkey wants to further develop its commercial, economic, industrial, scientific and technical co-operation with Moldova. We are ready to extend all kinds of support both in bilateral and in regional initiatives to this end.''
Recalling that investments of nearly 160 Turkish firms acting in Moldova reached 40 million U.S. dollars as of end-2003, Guler said that leading Turkish firms such as Turkcell, Efes, Dedeman and Nergis were among firms investing in Moldova.
Highlighting importance of investments in efforts to set up strong ties between the two countries, Guler said that Turkish contractors had undertaken projects in Moldova worth of about 56 million U.S. dollars.
Stressing that they were ready to support Turkish contractors' projects in Moldova, Guler said that Turkish-Moldovan Business Council should become more active.
Guler added that Turkey would send an aid of 2 thousand tons of diesel oil to Moldova in the coming days.
Meanwhile, Industry Minister Mihail Garstea of Moldova said in his part that Turkey and Moldova could co-operate with each other in industry, tourism and agriculture.
Garstea also congratulated the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) for its success in local elections of March 28, 2004.
(UK-AY) 30.03.2004