Turkish Public Works And Settlement Minister In Kabul

KABUL - Turkish Public Works and Settlement Minister Zeki Ergezen who is currently visiting Afghanistan met on Thursday with Afghan Commerce Minister Seyyed Mustafa Kazemi.
Ministry officials said that following the meeting, Ergezen met with Turkish and Afghan businessmen at lunch and later he returned to the Afghan Commerce Ministry, and Kazemi and he signed a trade agreement which envisaged mutual investments and exports.
Kazemi said that they wanted Turkey to invest especially in food, textiles and construction fields in Afghanistan.
Noting that there were great opportunities of investment in construction fields, particularly motorways and real estate, Kazemi said that they wanted opening of private schools and vocational schools in education fields and they wanted Turkish businessmen to open private hospitals in health sector.
Stressing that they wanted to make use of Turkey's experiences, Kazemi said that Afghanistan could be used as a bridge on Europe-Turkey-Asia route.
Kazemi added that they requested Turkey to immediately open trade counselor's office in Kabul.
Meanwhile, Ergezen thanked Kazemi for close interest and hospitality shown towards Turkish soldiers on duty and Turkish contractors making business in Afghanistan.
Recalling that peoples of Turkey and Afghanistan had close ties, Ergezen said that he was pleased to sign the trade agreement on encouragement of investments.
''The region intensely needs peace. As the Turkish side, we wish that stability would be settled in Afghanistan as soon as possible in regard to maintaining long term investments,'' he said.
Stressing that they attributed great importance to Afghanistan's national unity and independence, Ergezen said, ''we will do our best in rebuilding of Afghanistan.''
Meanwhile, Ergezen who will meet with the Afghan Public Works Minister later in the day is expected to proceed to Iran on Friday.
(MS-AÖ) 10.06.2004