"We shouldturn the Black Sea and the Caspian into a freetrade zone," said Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen.

"We should turn the Black Sea and theCaspian into a free trade zone," said Turkish State Minister KursadTuzmen.

Making a keynote speech in the Turkish-Ukrainian Business Council meeting inKiev, Tuzmennoted, "our borders should unite us, not separate us from each other.

And, our sea should be our common sea." Tuzmen stated that Turkishcompanies have undertaken construction projects worth about 45 billion USD inEurasian countries.

According to Tuzmen, the direct investments of Turkey in the region have exceeded8 billion USD, and Turkey-Eurasia trade volume reached 30 billion USD.

On the other hand, Ukrainian Minister of Economics Anatoliy Kinakh said thathis country has launched initiatives to simplify visa procedures.

Kinakh recalled that Ukraine-Turkey trade volume was 3.4 billion USD lastyear, and added, "we should increase this figure."

AA