ANKARA - Cuban Minister of Foreign Investment & Economic Cooperation Marta Lomas Morales said on Thursday that Cuba was eager to boost relations with Turkey which has grown to become an economic power.
In an exclusive interview with the A.A correspondent, Morales said bilateral trade between Turkey and Cuba amounted to 46 million USD, indicating that this need to be increased.
Morales said she had very fruitful talks within the scope of Turkey-Cuba 8th Term Joint Economic Commission (JEC) meeting, and noted that Cuba was seeking ways to boost trade with Turkey.
Morales underlined that Cuba marked progress in researches on health industry, and said "works on AIDS vaccine are underway and we had a promising vaccine on cancer."
Morales underlined that Turkish businessmen could trade with all Latin American and Caribbean countries via Cuba and take advantage of the energy resources in Venezuela.
Morales said Cuba and Venezuela developed economic and social cooperation projects within the scope of the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americans (ALBA). "Turkey could take place within ALBA, we will be pleased over this," she remarked.
Morales said ALBA was an alternative to Free Trade of the Americans (FTAA) and that they thought ALBA would get strengthened gradually.
Morales said Cuba was the coordinator of ALBA and could immediately start works in case Turkey proposes to join ALBA.
(AY-ULG)