Turkey, Ukraine agree to boost trade, economy, industry

A series of agreements were signed between Ankara and Kiev on Friday to launch a number of joint projects in trade and industry.

The Turkish and Ukrainian governments agreed on a number of joint projects including production of airplanes at a base of the Ukrainian Antonov concern, Ukraine's Deputy Prime Minister Hennadiy Zubko said on Friday.

The blueprint of the agreements signed by Ukrainian Deputy PM and Minister of the regional development Hennadiy Zubko and Turkish Defense Minister Ismet Yılmaz at the 10th meeting of Ukrainian-Turkish intergovernmental Committee on commercial and Economic Cooperation in Kiev.

"The minutes of the meeting signed by the intergovernmental commission virtually follows the strategic roadmap signed by the presidents of the two countries and outlines points of interest in our cooperation to boost trade relations between our countries in all areas," the press service of Zubko cited him.

The agreements include free trade, tax facilitation, business support and joint industrial projects.

Turkey, Ukraine agree to develop three models of aircraft

Under the Industrial development deal both countries agreed to launch joint production of three models of aircraft at a base in Ukraine.

“This specifically is connected to the development and production of the TAN-158 passenger plane on the basis of An-158 jet; cargo aircraft for the Turkish side on the basis of An-178; and a plane for the Turkish side on the basis of An-70," the press service quotes Zubko as saying.

The possibility of Ukraine joining the Southern Gas Corridor project, to bring gas from the Caspian Sea to Europe, was also discussed in the meeting.

"We discussed possible participation of Ukraine in the vital Southern Gas Corridor project if it proves to be economically rational and ensures non-discriminative access to the facilities," he said.

Moreover, he said that Turkey would give consultancy service to Ukraine on the safety of nuclear power plants. Under this agreement, Turkey will train employees in nuclear plants and Turkish students would be able to do internships in Ukraine.

Ankara and Kiev will reach an agreement on space sector, Zubko said.

Turkey is the second-largest importer of Ukrainian goods and its fifth-largest trading partner, according to 2015 statistics.