ISTANBUL - Turkish-Bulgarian Business Council convened in Istanbul on Tuesday.
Council's Chairman Yalcin Egemen told reporters, ''Free Trade Agreement between Turkey and Bulgaria was signed in 1999, and trade has become free on a large scale after 2002.''
''Thus, trade volume between two countries exceeded 1.8 billion U.S. dollars in 2004. Of this amount 890 million USD are exports and 950 million USD are imports of Turkey,'' he added.
Egemen said, ''the trade volume has reached 1,840 million USD with an increase of 44 percent and this is the fastest increase among neighboring countries.''
''Trade volume which was under 1 billion U.S. dollars in 2002 increased to 1.3 billion U.S. dollars in 2003, and this increase continued in 2004 as well,'' he noted.
''We are pleased that new cooperation opportunities emerged in construction and defense industry areas after Bulgaria becomes a member to NATO,'' said Egemen.
Meanwhile, Bulgarian Trade & Industry Chamber deputy chairman Krasimir Dacev said ''although distance between Turkey and Bulgaria can be covered in two hours, vehicles wait at border crossings for 10 hours.''
However Dacev added, ''commercial relation between Turkey and Bulgaria is developing very well.''