PRESS RELEASE : In the presence of the Presidents of Ukraine and Turkey a number of documents that will significantly increase trade turnover between the two countries were signed

The press release issued by the President of Ukraine on 3 February 2022.

Following the meeting of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy with President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the tenth meeting of the Ukrainian-Turkish High-Level Strategic Council, a number of bilateral documents were signed.

Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba and Minister of Youth and Sports of the Republic of Turkey Mehmet Kasapoğlu signed an intergovernmental agreement on cooperation in the field of youth policy. This is the first bilateral document regulating cooperation between countries in this area.

The agreement creates legal boundaries for the introduction and development of cooperation, which will promote the expansion of people-to-people contacts and exchanges. It is a matter of organizing joint events and programs in Ukraine and the Republic of Turkey, including youth exchanges.

The Foreign Ministers of Ukraine and Turkey signed a Memorandum of Understanding on technical cooperation between the State Tax Service of Ukraine and the Revenue Administration of the Ministry of Treasury and Finance of the Republic of Turkey.

The document will allow not only to expand the scope of cooperation, but also to establish an exchange of experience in tax administration, improve relevant Ukrainian legislation and practices, and combat tax evasion.

The memorandum provides for cooperation between the parties in registration and accounting of taxpayers, their administration, combating tax evasion, use of electronic tax reporting, service of taxpayers, as well as training and development of staff, exchange of information, including instructions, guidelines, newsletters, laws in the field of taxation.

In order to coordinate, encourage and develop cooperation between Ukraine and Turkey in the customs sector, Acting Chairman of the State Customs Service of Ukraine Vyacheslav Demchenko and Deputy Minister of Trade of Turkey Mustafa Tuzcu signed a Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of a Joint Customs Council between the State Customs Service of Ukraine and the Ministry of Trade of the Republic of Turkey.

The Council’s activities are expected to intensify and develop Ukrainian-Turkish cooperation in this area, in particular, increase the effectiveness of customs control and simplify customs procedures, which will generally contribute to the growth of bilateral trade.

Vyacheslav Demchenko and Mustafa Tuzcu also signed an Action Plan between the State Customs Service of Ukraine and the Ministry of Trade of Turkey on mutual recognition of programs of authorized economic operators.

The document establishes the algorithm of actions of the parties in order to accelerate the conclusion of an agreement on mutual recognition of AEO programs and provides for the institutionalization of cooperation in this regard, including the establishment of a working group and the appointment of responsible persons. It will significantly contribute to the supply chain security, higher security standards and facilitation of bilateral trade.

A Protocol was also signed between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of Turkey amending the Agreement between the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the Government of the Republic of Turkey on Cooperation of Law Enforcement Bodies of December 4, 2009.

The document signed by Minister of Internal Affairs of Ukraine Denys Monastyrsky and Minister of Internal Affairs of the Republic of Turkey Süleyman Soylu will ensure more effective cooperation between the competent authorities of the two countries to prevent threats to public safety and order, terrorist attacks, as well as in the prevention, detection and investigation of criminal offenses and the identification of perpetrators. It covers areas of cooperation such as combating organized crime, terrorism, human trafficking, corruption offenses, money laundering, smuggling of goods, criminal offenses against property, environment, cybercrime, drug trafficking, etc.

In addition, the conclusion of the Protocol will help increase the administrative and institutional capacity of law enforcement agencies of Ukraine.

The Memorandum of Understanding between the State Enterprise “Ukrainian Scientific Research and Training Center for Standardization, Certification and Quality Problems” and the Turkish Institute of Standards was signed by Dmytro Kuleba and Minister of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Turkey Mustafa Varank.

The document is aimed at eliminating technical barriers to trade between countries and provides for the development of bilateral cooperation between the parties, mutual study of experience in the field of standardization, certification and quality.

The memorandum enshrines the readiness of the parties to cooperate and provide mutual support in the field of standardization at the national, regional and international levels, and sets the need for maximum harmonization of national and regional standards with international ones, as far as possible. These include mutual support in the framework of participation in international and regional organizations, such as the International Organization for Standardization, the International Electrotechnical Commission, the European Committee for Standardization, the European Committee for Electrotechnical Standardization, the Interregional Standardization Association.

The Framework Agreement between the Governments of Ukraine and Turkey on Cooperation in the Field of High Technologies, Aviation and Space was signed by Minister of Defense of Ukraine Oleksiy Reznikov and Minister of Industry and Technology of the Republic of Turkey Mustafa Varank.

The agreement is to provide a further impetus to Ukrainian-Turkish cooperation in the field of high technologies, aviation and space, in particular in the development, production and operation of the Bayraktar unmanned aerial vehicles.

The document defines the terms of cooperation aimed at ensuring the effective use of production and scientific-technical potential of the parties, and the responsibilities of the parties.

Its implementation will help strengthen Ukraine’s defense capabilities, lead to intensified bilateral economic cooperation and create an additional basis for attracting investment in high technology and these industries. And the participation of Ukrainian specialists in the development, production, maintenance, repair, modernization of unmanned aerial vehicles and their involvement in professional training will improve their skills in the field of high technology.