Tehran: Tuzmen continues official talks in Iran

Tuzmen said, "acting with this view, we have been fulfilling the strategy of developing trade with neighbor and surrounding countries since 2000. With these activities, our foreign trade volume with neighbor countries has reached to 50 percent in 2003. We have increased the share of our neighbors from three percent to 15 percent in our total export. Our target in a close period is to increase this share to 30 percent. A sustainable export increase requires import increase as well. Turkey especially has to import nearly all of its raw material and energy input. When property groups that Turkey needs are taken into consideration, Iran will be the country which will have the biggest share from our increase in import."
He added, "liberalization of Iranian economy is a true step and carrying on this process would increase the interest of Turkish companies to Iranian market. I believe that concrete steps will be taken in fulfilling free trade centers and preferential trade system in joint trade committee meetings to be held during Iran visit. Turkish and Iranian businessmen have important responsibilities in developing commercial and economic relations between two countries."