ANKARA - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's visits to Tunisia and Morocco which will start this evening are expected to speed up economic and commercial relations with these countries.
Free trade agreement signed between Turkey and Tunisia is to be approved by the parliaments of the two countries, while the same agreement signed with Morocco will enter into force within two months.
After these agreements go into force, Turkey's economic relations with these two countries are expected to revive.
There are agreements signed between Turkey and Tunisia on tourism, civil aviation, prevention of double taxation, maritime transportation, agricultural cooperation, and encouragement of investments.
Economic and commercial relations between Turkey and Tunisia are carried out within the framework of the agreement on commercial, economic and technical cooperation signed in 1992.
Turkey earned 220 million USD from its exports to Tunisia in 2003, while its imports from this country were around 98.1 million USD. Turkey earned 138.7 million USD from its exports to this country in the first seven months of 2004, while imported goods worth 31.3 million USD in the same period.
Iron and steel, automotive and by-industry products, electrical devices, cotton, tobacco, and fruit are the main goods exported to Tunisia. On the other hand, Turkey imports some chemicals, fertilizers, salt, sulfur and cement from Tunisia.
Ten hotels, including 5 Magic Life hotels and 3 Marmara Tour hotels, are managed by four Turks in Tunisia.
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Meanwhile, there is significant increase in economic relations with Morocco, the second leg of Erdogan's visit.
There are agreements on economic, scientific and technical cooperation, air transportation, maritime transportation, tourism, and encouragement of investments between Turkey and Morocco.
Turkey earned 179.6 million USD from its exports to Morocco in 2003, while imported goods worth 77 million USD. In the first seven months of 2004, Turkey earned 186.6 million USD from its exports to this country, while its imports were about 49.7 million USD.
Turkey exports iron and steel, automotive and by-industry products and electrical devices to Morocco, while it imports shoes, candies and candied products, knitted clothes and some chemicals from this country.
Dogus construction company has constructed a highway in Morocco, while Mak-Yol company has won a tender to construct a highway of 28.7 kilometers long. This project is worth 88 million USD.
Meanwhile, Galkon company has undertaken the project to construct 400 kilowatts of energy transmission line and transformer center.
Ramsey Yedek Parca Sanayi ve Ticaret A.S. (spare parts industry and trade corporation) owns 40 percent of a motorcycle assembly and manufacture company in Morocco, while Netas telecommunication company is serving this country under the title ''Netas Maroc''.
Yilmaz Makine Sanayi (machine industry) has undertaken the project to assemble sugar packing machines.