IZMIR - ``We aim to increase trade volume between Turkey and Ukraine to 2 billion U.S. dollars,`` Mykola Derkach, Ukrainian Minister of Economy and European Integration said on Thursday.
Derkach visited stands of Ukrainian companies at Izmir International Fair. Noting that Ukraine attributes importance to the fair, Derkach said, ``we have participated in the fair with 14 stands this year and Ukraine is the second country which has the highest participation in the fair after Russian Federation.`` He added, ``I believe Ukrainian companies will establish important business connections with Turkish companies during the fair.``
Noting that businessmen have started to work on joint investments following the visit of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Ukraine, Derkach said that last year Turkish businessmen invested 50 million dollars in Ukraine and this amount will increase in coming years.
Derkach said, ``Turkish businessmen attend fairs in Ukraine,`` adding they can cooperate in areas like alcoholic beverages, tire, automobile spare parts, construction materials and container transportation.
Noting that Turkish university students have preferred Ukraine for master`s degree in recent years, Derkach said, ``two countries can cooperate especially on education area. Thus, a sound basis can be created for cooperation in other areas.``
(GC-AÖ) 02.09.2004