Azernews.Az

By Aynur Jafarova

Turkey's Economic Minister Nihat Zeybekchi has said Ankara attaches great importance to Turkmenistan as an economic partner.

Zeybekchi who was on an official visit to Ashgabat, made the remark at a meeting with Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhamedov.

During the meeting, the two sides called for further expansion of cooperation on the basis of equal rights and mutual benefits.

Berdymukhamedov noted that Turkmenistan and Turkey are close friends because of common spiritual traditions and fraternal relations built on the principles of mutual respect in most fields.

The meeting was held as the Turkish Export Products Exhibition is underway in Turkmen capital.

Turkey is among the largest trade and economic partners of Turkmenistan. At present, more than 600 Turkish companies working in various fields like energy, oil and gas, construction, transport and communication, textile and agriculture sectors are in close contacts with their Turkmen counterparts.

Turkey ranks fourth in the total trade turnover of Turkmenistan. The volume of trade turnover between Turkey and Turkmenistan amounted to $3.5 billion in 2012.

Turkish companies have accomplished over 1,270 projects in Turkmenistan including road constructions and building of bridges, resorts, universities and plants. The volume of projects carried out by Turkish companies has reached $35 billion. There are about 600 Turkish companies registered in Turkmenistan.

Meanwhile, a representative office of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency has been operating in Turkmenistan since 1993.

Ankara is interested to play a role in the transit of Caspian energy supplies to Europe. Turkmenistan has officially invited Turkish companies to take part in the construction process of the Caspian seaside resort of Avaza.