BRATISLAVA - Turkish Justice Minister Mehmet Ali Sahin and Slovakian Economy Minister Lubomir Jahnatek signed Turkey-Slovakia Joint Economic Commission (JEC) Protocol in Bratislava on Tuesday.
The two country decided to further develop cooperation on automotive, energy, electronic, chemistry and contractor services sectors. They also decided to start talks within two months to renew the existing agreements on standards between the two countries.
Turkish Minister Sahin said that trade volume between Turkey and Slovakia was currently 1.070 billion USD, adding that they aimed to increase this figure to one billion Euro by 2010.
Sahin said that contractor activities had started for Nabucco natural gas pipeline project, and added that Slovakia, which attached importance to this project, could undertake a leading role within the scope of EU.
Sahin said that contractor services in Turkey were very developed, adding that Turkish contractors fulfilled 4,200 projects worth of 105 billion USD in 70 countries. Sahin said that Turkey would contribute to contractor services in Slovakia.
Minister Sahin said that Turkey`s export rate to Slovakia increased 53 percent in 2007 when compared to 2006, and reached 207 million Euro.
Sahin also invited Slovakian minister to Turkey.
Next year`s Turkey-Slovakia Joint Economic Commission meeting will take place in Turkey.
Sahin will meet Slovakian Construction & Regional Development Minister Marian Janusek as well as Post & Telecommunications Minister Lubomir Vazny in the afternoon.
Sahin and accompanying delegation will depart from Slovakia on Wednesday.
(GC-AÖ)