IZMIR - Vladimir Fitin, Russian Federation's Trade Representative to Turkey, said on Saturday that Russian Gasprom and Turkish Botas oil companies would sign a memorandum to cooperate in natural gas distribution.
Businessmen from Russia, the ''honorary guest'' of the 73rd Izmir International Fair (IEF), visited Izmir Chamber of Commerce.
Fitin, in the meeting, said that bilateral trade volume had exceeded 4.6 billion U.S. dollars in the first half of this year, and two countries expected their trade volume to reach 12 billion U.S. dollars by the end of the year when income from the unregistered trade was also added.
Turkish businessmen were mainly investing in areas like textile, food and construction in Russia, Fitin noted.
Fitin stated that Ramstore, a shopping mall built by a Turkish company, was among the well-known trademarks in Russia.
Turkish investments would increase once Turkish wholesale trade center was formed in Moscow, Fitin pointed out.
Fitin said that Russian companies were making energy investments in Turkey, and showed cooperation of Turkish and Russian companies in Blue Stream Natural Gas Project as an example.
Russian companies were interested in especially privatization in Turkey, Fitin noted.
Fitin went on saying, ''efforts continue to create a natural gas circle in Turkey, and to establish a European natural gas route via Greece. Russian companies plan to join these projects. Also, Gasprom and Botas will sing a memorandum to cooperate in third countries. Two countries will determine areas in which they can cooperate in third countries.''
Russian companies were preparing to cooperate with Turkey in nuclear power plant construction upon recent statements of Turkish Energy and Natural Resources Minister Hilmi Guler, Fitin added.
(BRC) 29.08.2004