Prime Minister Narendra Modi is holding delegation level talks with Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in New Delhi. A number of agreements are expected to be signed in several areas after the talks.

Key bilateral and regional issues, including India’s NSG membership bid and ways to strengthen cooperation in counter-terrorism and trade are expected to be discussed.

Earlier, addressing India Turkey Business Forum, Prime Minister Modi said the level of present economic and commercial relations between the two nations is not enough against the real potential.

He said, as the two countries strive to build stronger political ties, the time has come to also make more aggressive effort to deepen the economic relations.

Mr Modi urged for more Turkish investment in India. He said the two countries enjoy substantial economic ties and bilateral trade has increased in the recent years.

The Prime Minister said, India is committed to provide business friendly environment to the Turkish companies. He said, economies of both the countries are based on strong fundamentals and can do better in future.

He said, Indian economy is fastest growing major economy. Apart from maintaining this pace, the focus is to remove inefficiencies from the system, Mr Modi added. The Prime Minister said Goods and Services Tax is a step forward to boost economic relations.

He also said, today’s knowledge-based global economy is continuously opening new areas and India and Turkey must factor this in the economic and commercial interactions.

He said his government has planned to build 50 million houses by 2022. and for this purpose FDI Policy in construction sector has been repeatedly refined.

The visiting digitary is accompanied by senior cabinet ministers and a 150-member business delegation.

Mr Erdogan was accorded ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi this morning. He was received by President Pranab Mukherjee and Prime Minister Modi. Mr Erdogan also laid wreath at Mahatma Gandhi’s Samadhi at Raj Ghat.

The Turkish President will also meet President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhawan. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj will also call on Mr Erdogan.