Vietnam and Turkey are about to ink agreements covering investment promotion and protection, double taxation avoidance and aviation.

In the meantime, the two countries are accomplishing related negotiations and necessary procedures to enable the early signing of these documents.

The information was announced at the Turkey -Vietnam Investment and Trade Seminar held in Hanoi on Feb. 22 on the sidelines of the fifth Vietnam-Turkey Trade and Economy Joint Committee.

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister and State Minister Bulent Arinc said he hoped the seminar will open up a score of opportunities for Vietnamese and Turkish businesses to forge closer connectivity.

Addressing the seminar, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh emphasised that Vietnam always treasures its comprehensive cooperation with Turkey, which is now the 17th largest economy in the world.

Though attaining 636 million USD in two-way trade in 2010, or a surge of 49 percent over 2009, the two countries are yet to establish a desirable cooperation in industry, agriculture, investment, finance, science and technology, culture and tourism, said Anh.

At the seminar, the organisers – the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) and the Turkish Confederation of Industrialists and Businessmen (TUSKON) - signed a cooperative deal aiming to promote trade and investment between business circles of the two countries.

Trade activities between Vietnam and Turkey have recently been facilitated thanks to the recent opening of a direct flight service from Istanbul to Ho Chi Minh City by Turkish Airlines.

A gateway to the European, Middle Eastern and North African markets, Turkey is currently Vietnam’s important trade partner and its biggest export market in the West Asian region./.