Turkish Labour Minister Omer Dincer and Serbian Minister without portfolio Sulejman Ugljanin conferred on Wednesday in Novi Pazar, city in south-west Serbia, over the possibilities for Turkish investments in the Sandzak region, south-west Serbia.

Dincer pointed out that Turkey, in cooperation with the Turkish International Cooperation and Development Agency (TIKA), has so far invested a total of USD 13 million in 15 projects, eight of which are being conducted in Sandzak. Some of these projects have already been completed, while the rest of them should be realised by the end of 2011.

Dincer said that the mayor of Novi Pazar has proposed two more projects, which comprise the construction of a new primary school and a centre for medical analysis. Dincer added that USD 4.5 million will be invested in the realisation of these two tasks.

The Turkish official said that activities regarding the export of meat from Pester to Turkey are underway and that the commission is willing to fund construction of facilities in the industrial area near Tutin, a town in Sandzak.

Dincer noted that Turkey's Eksim Bank will grant a USD 30 million loan for the construction of a road from Novi Pazar to Sjenica. Turkey will always be willing to help Sandzak, Dincer said and added that his country wants the people in Sandzak to live comfortably and in peace.

The minister underscored that Turkey will use its financial investments to improve the life of citizens of Sandzak.

Ugljanin told reporters that he and Dincer were there to send a message to all Serbian citizens that the two countries' common goals include more work, accelerating the pace of economic development and employing the young.