Erdogan urges to boost trade ties with Kyrgyzstan

Erdogan called the current volume of trade turnover between the two countries "very comical" and said they would aim to increase it from $40 million this year to $200 million next year. "As some obstacles are removed, I believe that Turkish investment in the Kyrgyz economy will also rise," Erdogan told reporters.

Tanayev said he believed Erdogan’s visit would become "an important turning point" in relations.

Erdogan brought along an about 200-strong business delegation on his first visit to Central Asia since taking office. Wednesday Erdogan is expected to meet with President Askar Akayev and Kyrgyz business circles.

Thursday, Erdogan is to travel to neighboring Tajikistan, while Russian President Vladimir Putin is to arrive in Kyrgyzstan to open Russia’s first military air base in the region since the 1991 Soviet collapse -a move seen as Russia’s response to the arrival of U.S. troops here.