BATUMI, Georgia
The Turkish Economy Minister on Friday praised the trade level between Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia, and called for joint efforts to increase the trade volume.
Nihat Zeybekci's remarks came at the 4th Meeting of Turkey-Azerbaijan-Georgia Business Forum held in the Georgian capital, Batumi.
"(Economic) expectations will be met more easily if relations sit on an economic base," said Zeybekci, calling for more business meetings for mutual trade.
He said the joint trade level between Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia was high, adding that the three countries have a close geography, which he said would be an advantage to move like one producer in the world in terms of harvest and products raised in the region.
"We will move like one producer in the world by taking advantage of our mutual presence in the same harvests and sectors," the economy minister said.
Zeybekci said he was optimistic with regards to increasing economic cooperation and the trade volume among the three countries.
"The trade volume should reach to $20 billion between the three countries," he said.
Azerbaijan's economy minister, for his part, brought up the Baku-Tblisi-Ceyhan Petroleum Pipeline energy project and Baku-Tblisi-Kars railway project as examples of cooperation between the countries.
"The forum will have good results, I am sure that we will enjoy the fruits of this forum in every field," said Shahin Mustafayev while calling for a continuation of this cooperation.
“There are many projects that will make the people of these three countries more familiar with each other within the scope of economic partnership,” said Georgia's economy minister, Giorgi Kvirikashvili.
Kvirikashvili said that trade between the three countries should be promoted, adding, "The economic relations between Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia set an example."
