Turkey and Malaysia to sign Free Trade Agreement


KUALA LUMPUR — Malaysia and Turkey will sign a Free Trade Agreement in conjunction with Malaysian Prime Minister Najib Razak's two-day official visit that starts Wednesday.The Malaysian Foreign Ministry also hopes to conclude other memorandums of understanding between institutions of higher learning and the private sector, reported Malaysian national news agency Bernama on Wednesday.The FTA will be witnessed by Najib Razak and Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.The Malaysian contingent will include the Prime Minister's wife Rosmah Mansor, Foreign Minister Anifah Aman, International Trade and Industry Minister Mustapa Mohamed, Perak state Chief Minister Zambry Abdul Kadir and four members of the Malaysian Parliament.Najib is also scheduled to meet President Abdullah Gül and Erdoğan in a restricted meeting before a delegation meeting in Ankara.Malaysia is Turkey's third largest trading partner in Southeast Asia. In 2013, Turkish exports to the country were US$270 million, while imports stood at US$1.2 billion.Turkey mainly exports defense industry products, carpets, flooring products, machinery, transport vehicles, tobacco and food products to Malaysia, while imports include animal fats, vegetable oil, electronic products, machinery, transport vehicles, textile products and garments. Malaysia has a 0.19 percent share of Turkey's total exports, and its share in imports is 0.60 percent.