09:56 | Lima, Oct. 23 (ANDINA).
Peru and Turkey have agreed to formally start talks aimed at forging a "comprehensive" free trade agreement (FTA) between the two countries.
Peruvian Minister of Foreign Trade and Tourism Magali Silva said Tuesday that there is strong interest from both sides to make rapid progress on this matter, with the first round of negotiations planned for January 2014 in Ankara.
"We are confident that the results of these negotiations will be very positive, because it is a comprehensive agreement covering various issues related to trade in goods and services, while taking into account the interests and sensitivities of each country," she stated.
Delegations from both countries recently met in Lima, capital of Peru, to determine the scope and guidelines of the FTA.
On the part of Turkey, the meeting was attended by Turkish Ambassador Namik Güner; the commercial counselor at the Turkish Embassy in Lima, Alper Subasi; and a group of officials from Turkey's Ministry of Economy.
Peru meanwhile was represented by newly-appointed Deputy Foreign Trade Minister Edgar Vasquez and the director for North America and Europe Affairs at Peru's Ministry of Foreign Trade and Tourism, Diego Urbina.
In the first half of this year, Peru exported to Turkey US$ 22 million worth of goods, mainly mining, fishing, agricultural and leather products.
(END) LVT/EEP
Published: 10/23/2013