Turkey calls for improving regional trade, connectivity

ANKARA

Asia has emerged not only as a production center but also as the largest consumer market, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Saturday.

"This provides important opportunities for all of us," he said at the 25th Council of Ministers Meeting of the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO) held in Ashgabat, Turkmenistan.

"ECO should act as a trade and economic cooperation bridge between Asia and Europe," he added.

Speaking about the pandemic and economic recovery, Cavusoglu said member states should benefit from ECO to have an integrated region.

"We can only benefit more from global trade if we improve regional trade and connectivity," he explained.

Cavusoglu emphasized that the organization should focus on transportation and logistics corridors in the region to achieve that.

The minister said Turkey has been delivering on its commitments of the Economic Cooperation Organization Trade Agreement, known as ECOTA, and noted that the deal helps Turkey achieve meeting its $100 billion trade target.

ECO is an Asian political and economic intergovernmental organization founded by Iran, Pakistan and Turkey in 1985, as it serves as a platform to discuss and improve development, and promote trade and investment opportunities.