Vice President Ansari arrives in Turkey, economic ties and terrorism high on agenda

Ankara, Oct 10 (ANI): Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari today arrived in Ankara on a five-day visit to Turkey, with economic ties and terrorism being high on his agenda.

Ansari was received at the Ankara International Airport by Dr. Mehmet Saglam, Deputy Speaker of Turkish Parliament.

Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment Mukul Wasnik, Members of Parliament Sitaram Yechury, Ranjitsingh Vijaysinh Patil, Vijay Pal Singh and Ingrid McLeod are accompanying Ansari on his visit.

The Vice-President's visit will provide an additional impetus and momentum towards further consolidation and strengthening of the comprehensive partnership between India and Turkey in areas of mutual interest to mutual benefit, also reinforcing close traditional and historical friendship between both countries.

India's relations with Turkey have a historical bearing. The links between both countries are civilisational, encompassing architecture, arts, language and cuisine.

In the economic and commercial area India sees Turkey as among its important partners in the region. Two-way trade between the two countries touched four billion dollars in 2010 of which India's exports were of the order of 3.4 billion dollars and imports from Turkey into India accounted for 606 million dollars.

More than 112 Indian companies have registered their business in Turkey with investments in areas ranging from infrastructure and automobiles to IT and consultancy services.

Ansari will first visit Turkish capital Ankara, where he will hold delegation-level talks with Speaker of the Turkish National Assembly Camil Cicek and other lawmakers.

Ansari will also pay homage at the memorial of the founder of the Republic of Turkey, Mustafa Kemal Ataturk in Ankara and will also visit the provinces of Konya and Nevsesir.

He will address a Business Forum at the Turkish Chamber of Businessmen and Industrialists in Istanbul.

While in Konya, Ansari will be conferred with an Honorary Doctorate for International Relations by the Mevlana University. By Praful Kumar Singh (ANI)