ASTANA – Turkish Minister of Economy Nihat Zeybekci proposed during the recent Kazakh-Turkish business forum a visa-free regime for migrant workers between Turkey and Kazakhstan, Astana TV channel reports.
He said both countries have been cooperating for a long time. And over the years of joint work, Turkey has invested about $2 billion in Kazakhstan economy.
He added, however, that this number can be increased to $10 billion. Trade between the two countries is mainly based on natural energy resources, the minister stressed. But the Turkish companies are ready to supply textile products and some food products to Kazakhstan. However, to realise this, Kazakhstan and Turkey need to review the trade agreement and remove some barriers, the speaker said.
“We have to remove all obstacles and barriers for our cooperation. Although we have a visa-free regime between our countries, it seems to me that we need to give a visa-free regime to our workforce as well. So that our workforce can act freely in both countries,” said the Turkish minister.
In addition, Zeybekci announced Sept. 9-10 as the date of the official visit of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan to Kazakhstan. It has also been reported that the Turkish President intends to take part in the upcoming Organisation for Islamic Cooperation Summit on Science and Technology as part of his official visit to Astana.
The Turkish President’s previous visit to Kazakhstan took Dec. 11-12, 2016, when he met President Nursultan Nazarbayev and talks among extended delegations took place.
