Turkish State Minister to visit Iraqi city with Turkish businessmen

Delivering a speech in the meeting, Caglayan said 48 memorandums of understanding which were signed between Turkey and Iraq aimed at boosting cooperation in many areas such as education, tourism and industry and these memorandums should be implemented as soon as possible.

Turkey's exports to Iraq became 5.1 billion U.S. dollars and trade volume between the two countries exceeded 6 billion U.S. dollars in 2009, Caglayan said. "We aim to increase trade volume to 20 billion U.S. dollars by 2013," he said.

Turkey attached a great importance to political stability and territorial integrity in Iraq, he said.

Works have been under way for establishment of a free zone on border between Turkey and Iraq, Caglayan said.

Caglayan said he would visit Irbil with Turkish businessmen on April 27-28 to hold talks.

In his part, Celebi said they aimed to speed up works on establishment of free zone with Turkey and attached a great importance to Turkish companies in the north of Iraq. Turkish companies should make more investments there, Celebi said.


/World Bulletin/