Global General

Turkey, Russia to start visa-free travel

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-04-15 17:21

ANKARA - Turkish and Russian nationals will be able to travel between the two countries without obtaining a visa starting from Saturday, the Anatolia news agency said Friday.

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Turkey and Russia signed an agreement last year to lift visa requirements for their citizens traveling to the other side and the agreement will take effect as of April 16, 2011, said the report.

The move is expected to boost bilateral trade to $40 billion from the current $26.2 billion within one year and promote tourism as well, the report said.

Turkish and Russian citizens can travel for 30 days without visa within a 90-day period, according to the agreement.

Mehmet Buyukeksi, president of Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM) , said he hoped this historic step with Russia would be an example to other EU countries, added the report.

Russia was the second biggest trade partner of Turkey and considered as a target market by all exporter sectors, he said.