Ukraine-Turkey trade turnover to reach $5-6 billion this year
2011-12-22 15:20:21
The trade turnover between Ukraine and Turkey this year will reach $5-6 billion, Ukraine's Ambassador to Turkey Seriy Korsunsky told reporters.
"Trade turnover this year will reach, according to our statistics, $5 billion, and according to Turkish statistics nearly $6 billion," he said. Korsunsky emphasized that for Ukraine, Turkey is second biggest export partner after the Russian Federation.
He also suggested that the visa-free regime between Ukraine and Turkey will start functioning in May if an agreement on terms for mutual trips of citizens is signed between the two countries' governments in Ankara Thursday.
"We introduce this visa-free regime upon completion of all the procedures necessary for entry of this agreement into force. I predict this is approximately May," the Ambassador said.
According to him, the point at issue is visa-free regime for citizens of both countries for a period of 30 days.
Korsunsky said it is beneficial for Ukraine, as some 500 thousand Ukrainian tourists visit Turkey annually. "That is, each of them pays $30 per visa. Do the math: that's $15 million," he added.
As reported, President Viktor Yanukovych of Ukraine went on an official visit to Turkey Thursday.