Turkey wants to boost relations with Bangladesh and take bilateral trade to $2 billion a year at the soonest from about $900 million now.

Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said this to journalists after Turkish Ambassador to Bangladesh Mustafa Osman Turan met him at state guest house Padma yesterday and handed over personal protective equipment (PPE).

Turan handed over 20 ventilators and associated components, 10,000 N95 masks, 10,000 medical gowns, 10,000 coveralls, 2,000 face shields and 5,000 protective glasses. This was the fourth time Turkey donated such materials during the pandemic.

Recalling his visit to Turkey and meeting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in September this year, Momen said Turkey was committed to boosting trade with Bangladesh. President Erdogan has made a number of proposals to this end.

"The Turkish president is committed to boosting ties with Bangladesh. Trade should exceed $2 billion," he told reporters referring to his meeting with Erdogan in September.

The bilateral trade stood at over $900 million last year.

Momen said Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan may visit Bangladesh to attend the Mujib Borsho celebration in March next year or the D-8 conference. The final celebrations will be held on March 17 next year.

"If the Covid-19 situation is good, he will come in person. We are working on it," he said.

Besides, Turkish foreign minister will come on a visit to Bangladesh soon to inaugurate the country's newly-built mission in Dhaka.

Momen thanked Turkey for the assistance to combat the coronavirus pandemic.