Turkish trade minister opens trade exhibition in Malaysia

KUALA LUMPUR (A.A) - Turkish Customs and Trade Minister Hayati Yazici on Thursday opened the Third Turkish Products Exhibition in Malaysia's capital, Kuala Lumpur. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Yazici said that talks to sign a free trade agreement between Turkey and Malaysia were almost complete, adding that the agreement would help the two countries increase their bilateral trade volume up to 5 billion USD. "We attach great importance to the free trade agreement. Our goal is to reach a trade volume of five billion USD, which we believe is an attainable one," Yazici said.   Yazici said trade volume between Turkey and Malaysia increased 30 percent in 2011 to 1.8 billion USD from 1.3 billion USD in 2010, adding that Malaysia placed at 87th spot on Turkey's export list and at the 34th spot on the country's import list.          The Turkish minister said the two countries had vast potential to boost business ties in tourism, construction sector, energy, finance and education. "And Our message to our businesspeople clear: Turkey's investment assistance agency is ready to extend any help to for mutual investments. Turkey has the necessary professionalism and vision to assume an important role to help Malaysia open to new markets," Yazici said.