Turkey, Serbia, Bosnia-Herzegovina to boost trade: Minister

BELGRADE - Anadolu Agency

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Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci has said Turkey aims to strengthen economic relations with Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina as soon as possible.

Speaking in an exclusive interview with Anadolu Agency in the Serbian capital of Belgrade on Oct. 19, Zeybekci said, “Turkey has had free trade agreements with both Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina for more than 10 years. However, we have not reached the point that we seek. These agreements need renewal...

Moreover, we want to unite with Serbia and Bosnia in a council of representatives to discuss further economic cooperation. We aim to unite these three countries in common economic interests to raise the trade volume.” 

Turkey, Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina signed a Medium Term (2016-2018) Program and Action Plan in Belgrade on Oct. 19.

According to the deal, a council of representatives from the three countries will be established and will hold meetings every month to discuss further economic cooperation.

Zeybekci also urged the representatives of the three countries to improve mutual free trade agreements as soon as possible.

“Improving the free trade agreements mean having the most liberal and the most comprehensive free trade agreements in the region,” he said.

Zeybekci also said both Serbia and Bosnia-Herzegovina are major economic partners of Turkey, as “they are countries with huge capacities in the areas of agriculture, energy and tourism and also offer opportunities for Turkish banks to take an important role in banking sectors.”

Halkbank opens first branch in Belgrade

Turkey’s state-run lender Halkbank, one of the country’s biggest banks, opened its first branch in Belgrade on Oct. 19.

Zeybekci commented on recent terror attacks, saying terrorists want to keep Turkey busy with internal problems to prevent Turkey from creating strong ties with other countries in the Balkans and the Middle East.