ANKARA - Israeli First Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Communications, Labor, Industry and Trade Ehud Olmert said on Thursday that he hoped that commercial relations between Turkey and Israel would further improve.
Olmert met journalists at a breakfast at Ankara's Sheraton Hotel.
After the meeting of Turkish-Israeli Joint Economic Commission (JEC), they aimed to increase trade volume between the two countries to 5 billion U.S. dollars in the coming years, Olmert noted.
Stating that Israel had high technology on computerized irrigation systems in which Turkey was also interested, Olmert said that this system could be used in dry regions in Turkey.
Replying to a question, Olmert said that Turkish Foreign Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Abdullah Gul and State Minister Ali Babacan made incentive statements that projects in Southeast Anatolian Project (GAP) would be put into practice in the near future during meetings.
Upon another question, Olmert said that he did not make a statement that Turkey did not keep promises on GAP for Israeli companies, adding that but he hoped that Turkey would keep those promises.
Olmert noted that Israeli businessmen wanted to make business in Turkey.
Israeli Ambassador to Turkey Pinhas Avivi who replied to question of A.A correspondent said that they would provide workers of Turkish contracting service companies making business in Israel with special privileges.
Stating that there were also Israeli companies which wanted to make business in Turkey, Olmert noted that this issue would be a part of offset agreement that would be made with Turkey.
(EÖ-AÖ) 15.07.2004