Ukraine-Turkey trade grows by almost 30 percent

Ukraine-Turkey trade turnover has increased by 28% over the past two months. Last year, Turkey was 6th largest importer of Ukrainian agri-food products.

“In 2018, the trade turnover between the countries decreased by 3.9% compared with 2017. However, in the first two months of this year, it has totaled $356.6 million and has grown by 28% due to an increase in exports by 18%,” Olha Trofimtseva, the Acting Agrarian Policy and Food Minister of Ukraine, said during a meeting with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Turkey to Ukraine Yağmur Ahmet Güldere, the Ministry's website reports.

The minister noted that the Republic of Turkey remained one of the main partners of Ukraine in the agroindustrial complex.

“Last year, Turkey was 6th largest importer of Ukrainian agri-food products ($ 1.182.7 billion) and ranked 3rd among the countries from which Ukraine imported goods ($382.1 million),” the Ministry reports.

The main talking points of the meeting were cooperation in forest industry, veterinary and phytosanitary areas, exports of Ukrainian potato to Turkey.

Trofimtseva also expressed her opinion on the prospects for negotiations on the Ukraine-Turkey free trade agreement.

“I am convinced that signing of such an agreement will give an additional impetus to the development of bilateral relations not only in the commercial sphere but also in the development of joint investment projects between Ukraine and Turkey. Strengthening bilateral cooperation at the political and economic levels between strong partner countries in the Black Sea region should be our priority,” Olha Trofimtseva said.

As Ambassador Yağmur Ahmet Güldere stressed, Ukraine is an important strategic partner for Turkey and foreign trade cooperation between the countries has great potential.

Ukrinform.net