ISTANBUL
Turkish Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan has stated the bilateral trade volume between Turkey and Libya was $3.4 billion and now they aim to increase it to $5 billion in 2013.
Caglayan spoke at a dinner which was held in honor of Libya's Prime Minister Ali Zeidan in Istanbul on Tuesday and stressed that the close relations between two countries had a long history.
Caglayan said, he believed Libya would over come the transitional period easily and added that whether in economy or social life, Libya would be the attraction centre of North Africa.
The Turkish minister underlined, Turkey's support to Libya would continue to the full extent and noted, during Libya's new term, Turkey would stand by them and said, "Turkish building contractors and Turkish business world stayed to the last minute during the revolution in Libya and after the revolution they were the first ones to get back and this structure will continue as well as the Turkish-Libyan friendship."
Caglayan expressed that in 2002, the trade volume between Turkey and Libya was $920 million and it increased to $3.4 billion by 2012.
"We hope and aim to increase it to $5 billion by 2013 and up to $10 in a couple of years time," suggested Caglayan.
Moreover, Libya's Prime Minister Ali Zeidan stated that three months ago the Libyan government started off their duty and in that period of time, they visited Turkey twice.
Zeidan noted, the purpose of their trip was to exchange ideas in the fields of economy and trade, and to cooperate more.
He expressed, they see Turkey as a partner to fulfill development in Libya.
