Turkey states need to sign protocol on free trade with Kyrgyzstan

Bishkek, March 10, 2021 . / Kabar /. Kyrgyzstan and Turkey intend to increase trade turnover to $1 billion, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Kyrgyzstan Ruslan Kazakbaev said at a joint briefing following the talks with his Turkish counterpart Mevlut Cavusoglu, who has arrived in Bishkek for an official visit. The Kyrgyz minister noted that during the talks special attention was paid to economic cooperation. "We have set a goal for this year and the next to bring the trade turnover to $1 billion," he said. Besides, Kazakbaev said the Kyrgyz side proposed to establish a Kyrgyz-Turkish Investment Fund. "We have a Kyrgyz-Russian Development Fund. A similar Fund has been established with Hungary. In April, the Hungarian foreign minister will arrive in Kyrgyzstan. There will be an opening of the Fund. Our side has proposed Russia to create a similar fund," he added. The foreign minister of Turkey also focused on trade and economic cooperation. "We want to develop comprehensive cooperation. The coronavirus pandemic has not affected trade between our countries. But we need to bring our trade level to $1 billion or even more," he said. Mevlut Cavusoglu added a free trade protocol should be signed. "There is need to remove obstacles to trade. For example, on transport and logistics. Kyrgyzstan and Turkey need to create logistics centers. It is necessary to lay a route from Kyrgyzstan to Georgia, Azerbaijan, Turkey and further to Europe. We need to implement such projects," he suggested. On March 10, the Kyrgyz capital city hosted a narrow format meeting of Foreign Ministers of Kyrgyzstan Ruslan Kazakbaev and Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu. Earlier, the Turkish FM was received by Kyrgyz President Sadyr Zhaparov.