MINSK - ''We proposed to sign a preferential trade agreement to facilitate bilateral commercial ties. The Belorussian party considers the issue. Necessary studies will be carried out,'' Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said on Wednesday.
Tuzmen is currently holding meetings in Minsk accompanied by a delegation including parliamentarians, bureaucrats and businessmen.
Giving information to journalists about the visit he estimated the bilateral trade volume to exceed 100 million US dollars by the end of 2005.
Tuzmen said number of Turkish entrepreneurs operating in Belarus will increase and noted that they suggested signing of a preferential trade agreement.
Tuzmen said Turkey and Belarus could make cooperation in areas including defense industry, finance and banking, high technology products, textile and readywear, chemicals, and automotive sector.
Tuzmen, who was received by Belorussian President Aleksandr Lukashenko, also met Belorussian Foreign Minister Sergey Martinov.
Tuzmen and the accompanying delegation are expected to return to Turkey tomorrow (Thursday) after meeting Belorussian Prime Minister Sergey Sidorski.