OREANDA-NEWS.Relevant ministries of the Governments of Ukraine and Turkey are instructed to begin technical consultations in order to resume the negotiations on the introduction of a free trade area. Such talks are due in March. This was announced by Prime Minister of Ukraine Arseniy Yatsenyuk on Monday, February 15, at a press conference following talks with Prime Minister of Turkey Ahmet Davuto?lu, who is in Ukraine for a visit at the invitation of the Head of Ukrainian Government.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk reminded that the negotiations on the free trade zone between Ukraine and Turkey had been suspended back in 2013.

He expressed gratitude to the Government of Turkey and the Turkish businessmen, "who continue activities in Ukraine and enlarge investment flows". He cited an example of successful cooperation between Ukraine and Turkey - a Turkish company had offered the lowest price to construct the subway in Dnipropetrovsk.

Arseniy Yatsenyuk also said that he had commissioned to solve issues aimed at improving the business environment for Turkish entrepreneurs in Ukraine: "It concerns tax issues, including customs clearance procedures at the Odessa customs offices".

The Prime Minister of Ukraine stressed it was crucial to complete the signing of an agreement on the mutual protection of investment, which now undergo internal procedures.

During the meeting the parties also tackled the issues of joint projects in security and defense sector.

Another block of issues in the negotiations of Governmental delegations of Ukraine and Turkey was further investing in energy and infrastructure projects, including natural gas, announced Arseniy Yatsenyuk, noting that it was "the first winter in the entire history of Ukraine when since 1 January we haven’t bought natural gas from Russia."

Arseniy Yatsenyuk also noted that the signing of deals between the Governments of Ukraine and Turkey on granting Ukraine a loan worth USD 50 million had demonbstrated that "Turkey actually supports economic reforms in the country."

In addition, the Head of Ukrainian Government thanked the Government of Turkey for the provided humanitarian assistance to Ukraine.