Final Protocol Of Meeting Of Turkey - Tunisia Partnership Council Signed

ANKARA - Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said Wednesday that the way to overcome the global crisis is to increase cooperation among friendly and brotherly countries and bring together their strengths.
Kursad Tuzmen and Tunisian Trade and Handicrafts Minister Ridha Touiti signed the final protocol of the meeting of Turkey-Tunisia Partnership Council in Ankara on Wednesday in a ceremony held at the Foreign Trade Undersecretariat.
Speaking at the ceremony, Tuzmen said that the Free Trade Agreement signed with Tunisia three years ago helped the relations between the two countries to grow and has become a role model for neighboring and friendly countries.
Our goal is to increase the living standards of our two countries based on the strategic positions, deep rooted histories, experiences and rich human and natural resources of Turkey and Tunisia, Tuzmen said.
Tuzmen said that a large Turkish delegation and he would visit Tunisia in the first two months of 2009.
Based on the final protocol, we will hold promotional activities in both Turkey and Tunisia every two months, Tuzmen said.
"A large group of Turkish companies operate in Tunisia. Turkish contractors established machinery parks and made investments in Tunisia and proved that they are determined to stay in the Tunisian market. We will do whatever it takes to facilitate the continuation of the success of Turkish companies in Tunisia," Tuzmen said.
Tunisian Minister Touiti said that Tunisia is proud to have deep rooted relations with Turkey.
"Our cooperation will continue without a break. There is an opportunity to increase the trade volume between Turkey and Tunisia," Touiti said.
We may be able to increase the trade volume between Turkey and Tunisia to two billion USD by the year 2012, Touiti said.
"We look at Turkish-Tunisian cooperation as a necessity to overcome the global financial crisis. Our cooperation may minimize the negative impact of the global economic crisis. The legal framework for cooperation between Turkey and Tunisia is ready. The business world has a good chance to succeed (in Tunisia and Turkey)," Touiti also said.
(SOL-UK)
(ECO)