Turkey, Russia set to discuss key economic issues at İzmir fair on Aug 18

İZMİR

DHA photo

Top Turkish and Russian economy officials are set to discuss key economic, political, technical and trade issues at an international fair in the Aegean city of İzmir, which will start on Aug. 18 and last until Aug. 27. 

The main theme of the İzmir International Fair, which is organized for the 86th time by the İzmir Metropolitan Municipality’s event company İZFAŞ, is energy this year. The partner country of this year’s fair is Russia. 

Tatarstan President Rustam Minnikhanov and dozens of ministries from 23 countries will be hosted at the fair.

Partner country Russia will participate in the fair with a large delegation of top officials and business representatives from key sectors, including agriculture, energy, finance and tourism, to boost cooperation with their Turkish counterparts. 

Five cooperation sessions will be held between Turkey and Russia on the topics of energy, industry, contracting, special economic zones and tourism, according to officials. 

Top economy and energy officials from Turkey and Russia are expected to discuss bilateral economy issues during a breakfast on the first day of the İzmir fair. 

Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci and Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak are expected to attend the breakfast event, according to news agencies. 

In a follow-up press meeting on Aug. 18, Zeybekci and Novak are scheduled to give speeches. 

A Turkish-Russian business council meeting will also be held afterwards.

Minnikhanov, Zeybekci, Novak, Turkish Science, Industry and Technology Minister Faruk Özlü and his Russian counterpart, Deniz Manturov, are expected to attend the business forum, according to a Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey (DEİK) statement. 

The heads of Turkish and Russian business councils will also participate in the meeting, the statement said. 

On June 2, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev signed a decree lifting the ban on some agricultural produce and Turkish companies involved in construction, engineering and tourism in the aftermath of the downing of a Russian fighter jet in 2015. 

Following the lifting of the sanctions, only two restrictions are left for Ankara: the issue of visa-free travel for Turkish citizens and tomatoes.