Turkey aims to increase trade volume with Iran to $20 billion in 2011, a Turkish minister said on Thursday.

State Miniseter Hayati Yazici, who met with Iranian assistant first vice-president and the spokesman for Iran's Supreme National Security Council Ali Agha Mohammadi, said that trade volume between the two countries was $10 billion in 2008, however it dropped to $5.5 billion in 2009.

"Nevertheless, we have a large trade activity. So, we want to modernize customs gates jointly, and increase trade volume to $ billion in 2011," Hayati Yazici told the meeting.

Two customs gates, Gurbulak and Esendere, are now operating between Turkey and Iran, Yazici said, adding that officials of the two countries had agreed to open two more.

On his part, Mohammadi said that Iran was eager to set up joint customs gates which he said could make trade easier for Turkish and Iranian businessmen.

Iran wants to take tangible steps on the matter, he added.


AA