Erdogan calls for better trade ties with India

On the last day of his visit to India, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday attended a working luncheon given by Indian businessmen in his honor. Speaking at the luncheon, Erdogan called for improved trade ties between Turkey and India, saying that Turkish firms could play a key role in infrastructure work in the country. Erdogan said that the current $3 billion bilateral trade volume should be doubled by 2010. He also said that Turkey and India would soon take a remarkable step to strengthen energy cooperation, referring to a proposed pipeline project among Turkey, Israel and India that would cut oil transportation costs for India . The premier yesterday also visited the Center of Information Technologies (CYBERCITY) in Bangalore and the Indian Space Research Organization. Speaking to reporters on his way back to Turkey, Erdogan touched on speculation over a possible standby agreement with the International Monetary Fund, saying that he would announce the government's final decision on the matter after returning home.