ISTANBUL - Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan said on Sunday that the government should increase amount of foreign capital in Turkey.
Unakitan, who returned from his tour to France and Britain, told reporters that sufficient foreign capital had not come to Turkey so fair.
He went to Paris and London in order to meet with investors who were interested in Turkey, Unakitan said.
Unakitan noted that officials of companies which invested in finance and stock exchange in Turkey, which were interested in privatization initiatives, which had made or thought of making direct investments in Turkey, participated in his meetings.
''We are pleased to see that Turkey has already come onto agenda of Europe. Foreign investors have been more interested in Turkey,'' Unakitan said.
Unakitan stated that he replied to questions of investors in those meetings.
Stating that he explained Turkey's economic situation in the meetings, Unakitan said that the government would continue to hold such meetings to bring Turkey onto Europe's agenda.
Touching on Turkey's European Union (EU) membership process, Unakitan said, ''Turkey's efforts on the road to the EU are welcomed and appreciated. Although these steps seem to be political, they are also reflected to the economic world. They appreciate Turkey's efforts and say that these steps encourage investments in Turkey.''
Unakitan added that he saw in his visit to France and Britain that Turkey was on the right track in its economic steps and EU membership process.
(BRC-AÖ) 15.09.2003