Mexico City - During last week's Turkey-Mexico Trade and Investment Seminar, the two countries agreed to resume negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement.

Speaking at the Trade and Investment Seminar, Turkey's Deputy Minister of Trade, Gonca Yilmaz Batur, said that a bilateral meeting with Mexico's Undersecretary of Foreign Trade, Luz Maria de la Mora, was "very fruitful," according to Turkey's Board of Foreign Economic Relations (DEIK).

Batur expressed her expectation that commercial and economic relations between the two countries will reach "a level that matches the real potential" with joint work.

"The volume of trade between our countries exceeded $1.2 billion in 2018," Batur said, "2019's first half also showed a similar trend in our bilateral trade. Exports to Mexico reached $287.4 million, while imports from Mexico reached $276.1 million."

She said that the two economies have common characteristics, and the trade figures indicate the potential of a deal between Turkey and Mexico. "To raise these figures to the desired levels, we need to plan for more mutual visits, especially between our trade delegations and as a part of regular meetings of the Joint Economic Commission."

"And, most importantly, we need to sign a Free Trade Agreement between our countries," Gonca Yilmaz Batur stressed.

The Turkish government declared Mexico as one of its target countries in 2019, said Batur, and announced that the Trade Ministry is planning a visit to Mexico with a larger business delegation in the fall.

For his part, Mexico's Ambassador to Turkey, Bernardo Cordova Tello, said that with Turkish Airlines' direct flights to the country and "excellent" diplomatic and political relations, the distance between Turkey and Mexico and communication are no longer obstacles for strengthening the bilateral economic ties.

"As ministry, we are determined to develop our economic relations with Turkey," said Luis Fernando Godoy Rueda, deputy general manager of the Mexican Ministry of Economy.

The Turkey-Mexico Trade and Investment Seminar was held in Mexico City on August 23 and hosted by the Foreign Economic Relations Board of Turkey.