Türkiye's Grand National Assembly passed the Ninth Development Plan by 271 votes to 50 late Wednesday, setting ambitious economic targets for the period through 2013.
Under the plan, the economy is projected to expand 7 percent annually, lifting total national income to 800 billion USD and per capita income to 10,100 USD by 2013. Exports are forecast to climb 14.2 percent annually to reach 210 billion USD, while imports would rise 11 percent to 275 billion USD, bringing the overall foreign trade volume to 470 billion USD. Tourism revenues are projected to hit 36.4 billion USD by the end of the period.
The agriculture sector is expected to grow 3.6 percent per year, though its share of added value would fall to 7.8 percent. Industry is projected to expand 7.8 percent annually. The current account deficit relative to GDP is targeted at 3 percent, and inflation is set at 3 percent for 2013. The government plans to maintain a floating exchange rate policy.
Deputy Prime Minister Abdullatif Sener said the plan is designed to advance Türkiye's EU membership bid "with great determination," and stressed that cooperation with other nations is essential in an increasingly competitive global environment.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in June 2006, in its own words.