Yazici announces new border gates to be opened

Customs and Trade Minister Hayati Yazici has initiated efforts to open new border crossings with Iran, Iraq and Georgia in parallel to Turkey's increasing foreign trade volume. As a result, construction of the Cildir/Aktas border gate which is planned to be opened with Georgia will start in a few months and trains will travel between Ardahan and Georgia as part of the Kars-Tbilis-Baku railway project. Besides, two more gates will be opened in Muratli and Camili villages of Artvin on the Turkish-Georgian border. Furthermore, the Habur border gate now remains insufficient, as the foreign trade volume between Turkey and Iraq came close to approximately $8 billion and vehicle traffic surpassed 1.6 million a year. As a result, it was decided to open a crossing in the Aktepe-Bacuka area in Sirnak province. Another border gate is planned to be opened at Ovakoy to furnish services to small vehicles and trains between Turkey and Iraq. The Derecik and Uzumlu crossings will be constructed between the two countries as well. In addition to the Esendere (Hakkari), Kapikoy (Van) and Gurbulak (Agri) border gates between Turkey and Iran with a foreign trade volume surpassing $11 billion, the Dilucu crossing to be constructed between the two countries will be operational in 2013.