An agreement establishing a free trade area between Ukraine and Syria could be signed during the visit to Ukraine of the President of Syria Bashar Al Asad, which is scheduled for the next month. The Head of the Syrian side of the Intergovernmental Ukrainian-Syrian commission on trade and economic cooperation, Minister of Finance of the Syrian Arab Republic Mohammed Hussein said that at a meeting with the Prime Minister of Ukraine Mykola Azarov.

"We really do appreciate all your personal support, Mr. Prime Minister, to this project on the establishment of free trade area between our countries. We hope that this agreement will be signed during the visit of the President of Syria to Ukraine" - noted the Minister of Finance. He said that the bilateral trade turnover between our countries has a potential of 2 billion USD - exactly the same amount of goods flows between the Syrian and Ukrainian ports. According to him, Ukraine is the largest trade partner of Syria in Eastern Europe, and his country expects intensification of bilateral relations. "Our delegation is composed of 44 businessmen and 30 representatives of the Government, and this is the best indication of my Government interest to Ukraine" - he said.

In addition, Mohamed Hussein invited Mykola Azarov at a convenient for him time to visit Damascus.

In turn, Prime Minister of Ukraine thanked Mohamed Hussein for the invitation and promised to visit Syria soon.

Mykola Azarov will also assist the preparation of the visit of the President of Syria to Ukraine. "I will order to expedite the preparation of all the documents to be signed during the visit of the President of Syria. The event of such a high level must be carefully prepared. That should become a serious step towards development of our bilateral cooperation" - he stressed.

The Head of the Government stressed that Ukraine and Syria have considerable potential for intensification of bilateral cooperation in the transport sector. Ukraine has plants that are capable to produce aircraft, locomotives, and cars - everything you need for the development of transport infrastructure. "We are ready to cooperation and we will prepare to sign letters of intent and other framework documents to your President visit" - Mykola Azarov said.

The parties are also interested in cooperation in the framework of international transport corridors, energy and investment cooperation and discuss the draft joint venture in oil and gas field.

Tonight, chaired by Senior Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine Andriy Klyuyev and the Minister of Finance of the Syrian Arab Republic Mohammed Hussein the seventh meeting of the Intergovernmental Ukrainian-Syrian commission on trade-economic and technical cooperation had place, as the results of it several bilateral documents would be signed.



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