ID :
363981
Sat, 04/18/2015 - 10:09
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Erdogan names his key partners in Central Asia – Turkish expert

Baku, Azerbaijan, Apr.17 By Rufiz Hafizoglu – Trend: The visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan to Kazakhstan will even more strengthen the relations between Ankara and Astana, a Turkish expert told Trend April 17. Kazakhstan is the most important country for Turkey in the Central Asia due to the current economic and political relations between Ankara and Astana, Guner Ozkan, energy expert at Turkish International Strategic Research Organization said. “Kazakhstan has the largest economic and political potential of all other countries in the region,” said the expert, adding that Kazakhstan also shows special interest in Turkey. However, it doesn’t mean that Ankara doesn’t intend to develop relations with other Central Asian countries, Ozkan said. Turkish president embarked on a state visit to Kazakhstan on April 15. His visit will last till the end of April 17. Over 1,800 Turkish companies operate in Kazakhstan, and this figure exceeds the number of other foreign companies operating in the country. The total cost of the projects implemented by Turkish contractors in Kazakhstan nears $17.5 billion. The trade turnover between the two countries has doubled from $2 billion to $4 billion over the last three years, and it is planned to increase this figure to $10 billion as part of the New Synergy program, adopted by the presidents of Turkey and Kazakhstan. Edited by CN --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Follow us on Twitter @TRENDNewsAgency

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