President Suleyman Demi rel has said that the Dhaka Summit has set an important milestone in the D-8 process in terms of progress and achie-’vement towards its goal.

“It is less than a two-year old organisation. The remarkable thing is that by identifying specific projects we have been able to put the D-8 on a sound footing." said the Turkish President in an exclusive interview with The Daily Star at his hotel suite yesterday.

He. said he felt the potential of the' eight-nation alliance is 'tremendous.

'On one end is Nigeria and the other end is Indonesia. Opportunities for new avenues of cooperation abound in Islamic geography, and this could certainly be achieved through our efforts." said Demeri!. who presided over the launching of

D-8 in Istanbul on June 15, 1997.

Turkey, he said, as part of its commitment to D-8. has already designed an agricultural aircraft and that it would have its first experimental flight by theend of the year.

The Dhaka Summit, he said, provided an opportunity to the leaders of the eight countries to look into the core areas of cooperation.

"We also had the opportunity to exchange views on global economic issues confronting all of us today," Demirel said.

At the meetings and forums, th® Turkish President said, discussions focussed on increasing trade volume "among ourselves”. establishment of a Joint Business Forum, the mutual promotion of investments, the stock markets, banking and

finance and regarding scientific collaboration and development.

Speaking about Bangladesh-Turkish relations, he said the current level of economic and commercial relations between the two countries did not reflect the "real potentials of our two countries".

"I think we love each other. Our two peoples are like brothers. You admire Kemal Ataturk and we know about Kazi Nazrul (the rebel poet). I read a piece of his poem in the parliament. But in the economic field, we know very little of each others possibilities."

"I have requested both President Shahbuddin Ahmed and Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to visit Turkey with a group of businessmen, academicians and journalists. I expect your President to visit Turkey at the end of May or June.

The continuance of mutual visits between Turkey and Bangladesh will contribute to the expansion of the economic and commercial dimension of our relations."

He also expressed the hope that there would be more frequent contacts between "our businessmen to explore the

possibilities of cooperation".

Demeril said a proposal has been forwarded to hold the second meeting of the Bangladesh-Turkey Joint Economic Commission in Ankara in September this year.

The Turkish President hoped that during the forthcoming meeting of the Joint Economic Commission efforts would be made to enhance the level of trading and economic cooperation. He said the trade volume between the two countries was only USS 23 million in 1997 and "reached a modest figure of USS 26 million in the period of January-September in 1998" and hoped that these figures can be increased significantly.

Demeril pointed out that the legal framework for furthering economic and commercial relations between Turkey and Bangladesh Is yet to be com-pleted.

"We are looking forward to finalising and putting into effect the Agreement on Prevention of Double taxation."

This agreement, he said, will encourage businessmen of the two countries "to engage in more economic activities?

Asked about air links between the two countries, he said, that Turkey would be Interested in opening direct links between Istanbul and Dhaka shortly.

The visiting President expressed the hope that Bangladesh. Turkey and the countries of the D-8 would take advantage of the bonds provided by a common faith and cultural ties.