The signing of an agreement on the creation of a free trade area between Ukraine and Turkey will significantly improve economic cooperation between the two countries.

This question was discussed at a meeting between Verkhovna Rada Speaker Volodymyr Lytvyn and Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Volkan Bozkir on Monday.

"Bilateral trade could grow to 20 billion U.S. dollars in 2015 compared with 6 billion U.S. dollars last year," Lytvyn said.

At the same time, Bozkir recalled that the third round of talks on the preparation of the agreement for signature would be held in May and the fourth in September this year.

"Both sides are trying to achieve results as quickly as possible," he said.

Bozkin are also attached great importance to the holding in Kyiv in May of a meeting of the Ukrainian-Turkish commission on trade and economic issues, as well as stressed the expediency of holding a meeting of the Ukrainian-Turkish business council before the Turkish prime minister's visit to Ukraine.

Lytvyn and Bozkin also stressed the need to step up cooperation in the energy sector and the transport sphere.

Both sides said they were confident that the entry into force of the agreement on the visa-free regime would significantly expand cooperation in the economic and tourism sectors.

Ukrinform