India and Turkey, aiming to consolidate defence ties, have agreed to coordinate on counter-terrorism and expand trade and cooperation in the energy sector. Both, India and Turkey also look to increase their bilateral trade to six billion dollars by 2010. The two countries have decided to explore the feasibility of a Free Trade Agreement (FTA). This is the first visit by any Turkish Prime Minister since 1986.

During a joint interaction with the media, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Indian counterpart Dr. Manmohan Singh said that both the countries have agreed to collaborate further in areas of energy cooperation particularly hydrocarbons, science and technology, culture, tourism and people-to-people contacts.

Earlier, while addressing the top leaders of Indian industry, Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan called on Indian businessmen to invest in Turkey. He also said that the Ceyhan-Red Sea Oil Pipeline project would be implemented with India’s participation soon. Erdogan will also visit Agra and Bangalore.