Canada and Turkey have decided to intensify their collaboration in the fields of defense, transportation, and energy through the signing of several bilateral agreements, while they have agreed to initiate formal talks for a free trade agreement before the end of the year.
These advances have occurred during the visit to Ankara of Canadian Prime Minister, Mark Carney, the first by a head of government from Canada to the Eurasian country, during which both delegations have approved a three-year action plan with which they aspire to "start a new era," as emphasized by Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Erdogan has set as a goal to raise the volume of exchanges from the current 3 billion dollars (almost 2.7 billion euros) to 5 billion dollars (more than 4.4 billion euros) in the coming years, while both parties have committed to start negotiations for a free trade treaty in November.
In the chapter of sectoral agreements, in the area of air transport, it is expected to double the number of direct flights between both states, and in the field of defense, it is intended to enhance industrial and technological collaboration.
"Allies must be able to rely on each other regarding the equipment and capabilities that ensure our security," Carney has stated in remarks reported by the newspaper "Hurriyet."