ISTANBUL - Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen left for Bulgaria on Monday to assess new cooperation facilities between Turkey and Bulgaria on trade and economy.
Tuzmen is accompanied by 150 businessmen from food, agriculture, textile, ready-wear, chemistry, electricity, furniture, mining, transportation, finance and banking, tourism and media sectors.
Emphasizing that Bulgaria was the second trade partner of Turkey in the Balkans, Tuzmen said foreign trade volume reached 1.8 billion USD in 2004.
Tuzmen noted that Bulgaria was the second country which the Turkish companies made the most investment in the Balkans. He said Turkish investments in this country amounts to 300 million USD.
Tuzmen also said he would have the opportunity to discuss with his Bulgarian counterparts the problems seen in transportation and customs.
Tuzmen is expected to return to Turkey on April 13th.