Cambodian Commerce Minister Pan Sorasak yesterday urged Turkey’s ambassador to follow through on a plan announced last year to establish direct flights as part of a push to enlarge bilateral trade to $500 million a year by 2020, from the current $108 million, the ministry said in a statement.

Turkish ambassador Pan Ilhan Tug responded that Turkey still hoped its national carrier would establish direct flights, but problems had cropped up concerning the proposed route.

Turkish Airlines inaugurated weekly cargo service between Istanbul and Phnom Penh in May, but has yet to announce passenger flights.

The minister and ambassador are scheduled to meet again on June 21 to discuss the issue further.