Azernews.Az

Turkic-speaking countries signed an agreement to establish a new body comprising major companies and organizations at a summit in the Kazakh city of Almaty on Thursday, Novosti Kazakhstan news agency reported.

The Business Council of Turkic-speaking Countries held its first meeting on the same day, which was attended by officials from Kazakhstan, Azerbaijan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey. Discussions focused on prospects of economic cooperation among the member countries. Also, businessmen of the four countries held discussions on the sidelines of the Council meeting.

Secretary General of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking Countries, Khalil Akinci, said the new organization has two main objectives – outlining new areas of cooperation and removing hurdles impeding economic and trade relations among its member states.

"I am aware that entrepreneurs are complaining of customs procedures," he said. "Customs play a significant role in trade relations."

Akinci said there were challenges with crossing borders and obtaining documents on transit of goods. He suggested setting up an agency dealing with transport and communication under the newly established business council to address the issue.

The summit of the Cooperation Council of Turkic-speaking Countries in Almaty is attended by Azerbaijani, Kazakh and Kyrgyz Presidents Ilham Aliyev, Nursultan Nazarbayev and Roza Otunbaeva.

Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan has cancelled his visit to Kazakhstan over recent deadly terror acts in the southeast of the country. Turkey is instead represented by its Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag.

Participants are expected to sign a joint declaration in conclusion of the two-day summit.