Cooperation protocol to help exchange of views
The Balkan and Black Sea Business Center and the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank yesterday signed a cooperation protocol in Thessaloniki, northern Greece. The signatories of the agreement were Dimitris Bakatselos, the chairman of the former, and Ersoy Volkan, the chairman of the Black Sea Trade and Development Bank. The agreement foresees the exchange of views on regional economies, developments in privatization programs, and joint activities. Meanwhile, a conference was held titled, EU and Black Sea Economic Cooperation [BSEC]. Foreign Ministry Deputy Undersecretary Mithat Balkan represented Turkey at the conference. Balkan, who addressed the conference, spoke about the programs for cooperation within the framework of BSEC and pointed out that projected works pertaining to a natural gas network, to be constructed between Turkey and Greece, were to continue. Stressing that Turkey was preparing a model for the liberalization of trade between the BSEC countries, Balkan said Turkey would present this during the BSEC Ministers Council meeting to take place in Anatolia, central Turkey, in October. If our country takes a share equal to the size of its gross national product, direct foreign investment can reach $6 billion, Oztrak said.
