Turkey - Turkmenistan Joint Economic Committee Protocol Signed

ANKARA - Turkish and Turkmen authorities signed Joint Economic Committee protocol in the capital Ankara on Wednesday.
Speaking at the signing ceremony, Turkish Industry & Trade Minister Zafer Caglayan said this protocol showed that both countries were eager to boost the cooperation in the areas of trade and economy.
The protocol also presented common views on seeking for new methods to increase trade volume and organizing activities for promotion of the two countries, he said.
"Both countries also reached consensus on other matters. Some of them are starting talks on boosting cooperation in the areas of oil and natural gas, transferring electricity energy from Turkmenistan to Turkey and easing transit transportation between the two countries," Caglayan said.
New decisions would be made and new projects will be developed in 2009 for improvement of bilateral relations, he said.
Turkmenistan`s Deputy Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers for Trade, Commerce, Textiles & Customs Hojamuhammet Muhammedow said the two countries had sound administrative and economic relations and signed more than 100 agreements in the areas of economy, education and culture so far.
Nearly 500 Turkish companies have been operating in Turkmenistan and more than 800 projects of these companies were approved, Muhammedow said.
(EÖ)