Tuzmen Leaves For United States

WE AIM TO INCREASE OUR TRADE VOLUME WITH THE UNITED STATES UP TO 10 BILLION U.S. DOLLARS

ISTANBUL - Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen has said that they aimed to increase current foreign trade volume of 7 billion U.S. dollars with the United States up to 10 billion U.S. dollars in a balanced way.
Holding a press conference at Istanbul's Ataturk Airport prior to his departure for the United States, Tuzmen said on Sunday that he would attend the annual conference of the American-Turkish Council.
''There was a deficit of 2 billion U.S. dollars against us in our trade with the United States. The sides pursued a series of strategies to increase the trade in a balanced way. As a result, our exports to the United States became 3.7 billion U.S. dollars and our imports from the United States became 3.4 billion U.S. dollars as of end-2003. We consider the United States a very important market. During the annual conference of American-Turkish Council, all commercial issues concerning the two countries will be discussed in detail,'' he said.
Noting that he would also hold bilateral talks in the United States, Tuzmen told reporters, ''after completing our visit to Washington D.C. we will proceed to New York to open American-Turkish Chamber of Commerce. We aim to increase current foreign trade volume of 7 billion U.S. dollars with the United States up to 10 billion U.S. dollars in a balanced way.''
(To be continued)
(UK-MS) 04.04.2004