Istanbul to host Turkey-Russia relations conference

A conference planned to be held in Istanbul on June 11 is to discuss the effects of Russia's membership to the World Trade Organizaton on Turkey-Russia commercial and economic relations. The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) issued a written statement that they will hold a conference on June 11 to discuss the effects of Russian Federation's membership to the World Trade Organization (WTO) on Turkey-Russia commercial and economic relations. The statement said the opening speeches will be delivered by TOBB Vice Chairman and Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) Executive Board member Halim Mete and Turkish Ambassador in Moscow Aydin Sezgin. With its focus on "Russia's accession to the WTO, commitments and potentials," the conference will also cover the exchange of views between the representatives of Russian Development Ministry and Turkish Economy Ministry. Tuirkish and Russian businessmen will talk over the possible effects of Moscow's membership to the World Trade Organization on Turkey-Russia commercial and economic relations, under the moderation of DEIK/Turkish Russian Business Council's President Tuncay Ozilhan. As the statement indicates, Russian Federation ranks among the strongest world economies in global energy trade with its foreign trade volume of 650 bln dollars. The total trade volume of Turkey and Russia reached 26.6 bln dollars with a rise of 11 pct in 2012 compared to the last year's figure.