Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed the Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM) in Ankara in July 2006, outlining ambitious trade targets and highlighting recent economic gains under his government.
Erdoğan noted that annual exports had grown from $36 billion in 2002 to $73.4 billion in 2005. June 2006 set a record, with exports climbing 38 percent to $7.6 billion, while the first half of the year totaled $39.9 billion. The official year-end target stands at $79 billion, though Erdoğan expressed hope of reaching $80 billion.
Türkiye's economy expanded 6.3 percent in the first quarter of 2006, according to figures released the previous week. The prime minister said his government remained committed to bringing inflation down to its medium- and long-term targets, and he acknowledged that market volatility could occur but expressed confidence in Türkiye's ability to manage it.
Erdoğan also connected the country's economic trajectory to its European Union accession process, saying the path ahead would rest on firmer ground as that process advanced. He called on exporters and business leaders to prepare for what he described as a new era in production and trade.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in July 2006, in its own words.