Azerbaijan, Baku, April 13 /Trend A.Taghiyeva/
The investments of Turkish businessmen in the Syrian economy amounted to $1 billion, Turkish Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan said on Friday.
The number of Turkish companies engaged in exports to Syria amounted to 538 thousand in January-February compared to 3.269 thousand on the basis of 2011.
The number of companies importing goods from Syria to Turkey amounted to 108 in January-February 2012 compared to 644 companies at the end of 2011.
The minister noted that the Turkish authorities are in talks with Syrian counterparts in order to protect the investments of Turkish businessmen in the country.
Regarding the use of other routes for the transport of goods, Caglayan said that Turkey will use the territory of Egypt and Saudi Arabia on the route of Mersin, Alexandria (Egypt) - Duba (Saudi Arabia).
The minister said that Turkey has begun negotiations with Egypt for this project.