Turkey-Burkina Faso Joint Economic Commission meeting began in Ankara on Tuesday.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Turkish Environment & Forestry Minister Veysel Eroglu said that negotiations on a free trade agreement should start soon to reveal potential between the two countries.

Eroglu said businessmen of Turkey and Burkina Faso should enlarge fields of cooperation.

"The volume of trade with Burkina Faso is satisfactory. Trade volume has amounted to 10.9 billion USD in 2009," Eroglu said noting that Turkish companies were ready to cooperate in sectors of cotton and gold, which were the fundamental exports items of Burkina Faso.

Eroglu also wished Air Transportation Agreement to be signed between Turkey and Burkina Faso soon, indicating that agriculture, mining, industry, public works, and health were other areas of cooperation.

"I would like to state that Turkish technical consultancy companies are willing to assist institutions and organizations of Burkina Faso in preparation of plans and feasibility studies as well as project management and control engineering," Eroglu said.

Burkina Faso Minister of Foreign Affairs & Regional Cooperation Bedouma Alain Yoda said JEC meeting aimed at boosting cooperation with Africa. "The target is to underline economic development between the two continents and two countries."


AA