KIEV, Ukraine

Turkish and Ukrainian leaders on Monday pledged big steps to boost bilateral economic ties at a trade forum in Ukraine’s capital Kiev.

At the forum, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said trade between the two countries rose 10.2% last year to $4.8 billion, adding that the Turkish contracting sector has also signed 184 projects worth a total of $6.3 billion in Ukraine.

Erdogan and his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky spoke about current and future cooperation in the trade, economic, and investment sectors, stressing the goal to boost bilateral trade to $10 billion.

Erdogan said Turkey is one of Ukraine's main health tourism destinations, saying last year 20,000 people travelled from Ukraine for treatment or procedures.

He said that 1.55 million Ukrainian tourists traveled to Turkey after visa obligations were lifted, up 12% from the previous year.

Erdogan also said they will work on developing partnership to strengthen strategic sectors such as the defense industry, technology, communication infrastructure, and telecommunications.

Erdogan added that Turkish companies have significant investments in Ukraine especially in communications, food, textiles, banking and construction supplies.

*Writing Dilara Hamit