Turkish economy minister says trade volume with Latin American countries on rise

ANKARA- "Turkey has broken records in its exports to these countries last year," Turkey's Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan said during his meeting with Ecuador's Foreign Relations, Foreign Trade & Integration Minister Ricardo Patino in Ankara.

There have been great economic and political ties between Turkey and Latin American countries in the recent period, he said.

Caglayan said Turkey was eager to establish a network of free trade agreements in Latin America.

Turkey attached a great importance to relations with Ecuador in regard to improvement of its trade with Latin America region, he said.

Caglayan said that Ecuador's President Rafael Correa Delgado would pay his first visit to Turkey on March 15-16.

During Delgado's visit, Turkey and Ecuador would sign agreements in the areas of tourism, environment, culture and education as well as cooperation framework agreement, he said.

Patino said that he hoped that the two countries would enhance relations. Sound cooperation between Turkey and Ecuador was of great importance against economic crisis in Europe and North America, he said.

Patino also said Ecuador attached a great importance to Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, the Founder of the Republic of Turkey, and his place in the history.