Russian minister calls Turkey 'crucial' trade partner

By Efsun Yilmaz and Yusuf Sahbaz

IZMIR, Turkey

Ankara is a "crucial" trade partner for Moscow, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said on Friday.

"Multi-dimensional cooperation of our countries is developing," Novak said while in Turkey’s Aegean province of Izmir during an address at opening day of the 86th Izmir International Fair, where Russia is attending as a partner country.

Novak said Russia and Turkey were enhancing cooperation in several fields, including industry, transport, agriculture and construction.

"For instance, [bilateral] trade volume increased by 28 percent in the first half of this year," he said.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan frequently reiterates that Turkey's desire is to increase mutual trade volume with Russia up to $100 billion.

After Turkey shot down a Russian military jet over an airspace violation in November 2015, Moscow took several measures against Ankara, including banning imports of Turkish agricultural products and ending visa-free travel for Turks.

In June, Moscow lifted the ban on some agricultural produce and Turkish companies involved in construction, engineering and tourism.

Reporting by Efsun Yilmaz and Yusuf Sahbaz; Writing by Diyar Guldogan