site.btaBulgaria, Turkey Discuss Economic Cooperation, Customs Control

Sofia, October 16 (BTA) -  Finance Minister Vladislav Goranov met and talked with Turkey's Minister of Customs and Trade Bulent Tufenkci who is paying a visit to Bulgaria. Tufenkci is heading a delegation of Turkey's customs administration, the Ministry of Finance said Monday.

The two ministers noted the importance of good cooperation between the customs administrations of the two countries in the context of the movement of goods and citizens. The fight against contraband trade and trafficking in goods was noted as a shared priority.

The two sides discussed measures to improve the work of the customs services at border checkpoints and to make the movement of goods and people easier.

The Customs Agency also hosted a meeting between the customs administrations of the two countries. Customs Agency Director Georgi Kostov presented two major projects to the Turkish Customs and Trade Ministry Undersecretary Cenap Asci and the Director General of Customs, Mustafa Gumus. The first project
concerns easing the administrative burden and the second the introduction of a road toll system in Bulgaria.

The two sides also agreed to joint operations against drug trafficking and contraband trade.

Later in the day, Tufenkci was received by Prime Minister Boyko Borissov, the Government Information Service said. The Prime Minister underscored that the good neighborly relations between Bulgaria and Turkey are a condition to promote economic cooperation between the two countries. He remarked on the considerable expansion of trade since the beginning of the year and the existing potential for further development.

Borissov also drew attention to the amount of Turkish investments in Bulgaria - 24.5 million euro in the first quarter of 2017.

The sides also focused on the cooperation between the customs administrations of the two countries, as well as on the significance of timely exchange of information.

As chairpersons of the Bulgarian-Turkish Intergovernmental Economic Commission, Energy Minister Temenuzhka Petkova and Tufenkci discussed the next meeting of the commission, Petkova's ministry said.

Ptekova underscored that Bulgaria and Turkey are strategic partners in the energy sphere , noting that the Turkey-Bulgaria interconnector will ensure diversification of natural gas sources and supply routes as an integral part of the Southern Gas Corridor.