Turkey's Erdogan, joint statements with PM Dancila: Our objective is to reach 10 billion US dollars in trade exchanges

The President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, on Monday stated in Ankara, in his joint statement with the Prime Minister of Romania, Viorica Dancila, that the two states' target in respect to economic cooperation is to reach 10 billion US dollars. 

"We've started with a bilateral meeting where we discussed what can we do to develop even more our cooperation in the immediate future. (...) The economic and commercial relations represent the most important level of our relations. In 2017, we had a trade figure of approximately 6 billion US dollars and we want very much to increase this figure even more this year. Our target is to reach 10 billion US dollars in trade exchanges. Of course that, due to the steps that we are taking in common, we can reach this target," said Erdogan, during the joint statement he held with the Romanian PM. 

He also added that this figure increased by 23 per cent in January-August, compared with the same interval last year. 

"Which is why we will continue to work very hard to reach the 10 billion US dollars target. Together with the other third countries involved, we have investments in Romania worth 7 billion US dollars, which were made by Turkish companies. In Romania we have more than 15,000 Turkish companies that carry out activities in a wide range of domains, from the banking sector to mass media, from constructions to the production of various products. Of course that we will continue to support in the future too the investors who are making investments in Romania and the other way around. At the same time, we invite our Romanian friends to come and make investments in Turkey," added Erdogan. 

The Turkish President also underscored the importance of cooperating with Romania in the security field. 

"We want the cooperation we had until today with the Romanian authorities against terrorist organisations attacking our country to continue. We shall never forget the support granted to us by Romania during the attempt of coup d'etat of July 15 and we will maintain a close connection with all the Romanian authorities, in mutual support, and we will also take all the necessary steps against the persons and institutions in Romania having connections with the FETO organisation," said Erdogan. 

He also highlighted the mutual support the two countries grant to each other under NATO. 

"On the occasion of the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union that Romania will hold in the near future, this will also be an opportunity for us. Dear Mrs. Prime Minister, I am very happy to see that before taking over the rotating presidency of the Council of the European Union you preferred to visit our country and I am very pleased with this fact," said Erdogan. 

He voiced appreciation for the Romanian side related to the treatment of the Turkish community in Romania and the intercultural exchanges. 

"I can say that more than 15,000 of our citizens and more than 70,000 citizens from the community created by our relatives are living in peace and welfare in Romania, for which we are grateful. We wish from the bottom of our heart that Romania will become a good example for other countries too. And I want to underscore on this occasion that the "Yunus Emre" Turkish Cultural Centre in Romania and the "Dimitrie Cantemir" Romanian Cultural Centre in Istanbul are both helping with developing even more our cultural relations. At the same time, the TIKA Agency, which carries out its activity in Bucharest together with the Romanian authorities, carries out activities in the education, culture, healthcare and sports fields, where it signs very important projects," said Erdogan. 

Moreover, the Turkish President brought to mind that the year 2018 represents a moment of celebration for the two countries, considering the 140 years of bilateral diplomatic relations and pointed out that starting with the year 2011 the bilateral relations were upgraded to a strategic level. 

"The friendship between our countries is the result of the cultural exchanges and the good relationship existing between our peoples," concluded Erdogan.