ALGERIA - State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said new means like the Free Trade Agreement should be used to increase trade volume between Turkey and Algeria as well as the classical methods.
Tuzmen, currently in Algeria to participate in 4th Turkish-Algerian Cooperation Fair and Turkish Construction Products Fair, met with Algerian Trade Minister Noureddine Boukrouh.
Tuzmen, who gave information about his meetings to the Turkish businessmen who have investments in Algeria, pointed out that total trade volume of both countries was around 110-120 billion U.S. dollars, however that total trade between the two countries was 1,5 billion U.S. dollars, only one percent of this total figure.
Tuzmen said they stressed that Free Trade Agreement should be discussed in a way without giving damage to the economies of the two countries, and noted that, ''two committees have been established related with the Free Zone that would be made in Algeria and about the Free Trade Agreement.''
Tuzmen said Free Trade Agreement was signed between Algeria and the European Union (EU) in 2002, stating that Turkey also wanted to make such an agreement, ''it is obvious that we complain about the customs taxes and the customs regulations. We have taken the first step of this today. I think this will make serious contributions to increase trade between the two countries in the coming term.''
(AY-AÖ) 20.02.2003