ANKARA - State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said on Sunday that they aimed to make provinces ''exporter provinces'' and small and medium scale enterprises (SMSEs) ''exporter SMSEs''.
Noting that there were five provinces which made exports more than one billion dollars at the moment, Tuzmen said that they aimed to increase this number to ten in 2004.
Replying to questions of A.A correspondent, Tuzmen said that exporter organizations, which were gathered in a few provinces earlier, now spread to the whole country, adding that there were firms which exported goods nearly in every province at the moment.
Tuzmen said that the number of provinces which exported goods more than one billion dollars was five at the moment. He added that they aimed to make all provinces ''exporter provinces''.
Tuzmen said that 23 provinces were exporting products more than 100 million dollars. He added that the number of provinces which made exports more than one billion dollars would be increased to ten and the provinces which made exports more than 100 million dollars would rose more than 30 in 2004.
Noting that nearly 30 thousand firms were making exports in Turkey, Tuzmen said that the number of SMSEs which made exports was rapidly increasing.
Tuzmen added that neighbor and surrounding countries and especially African countries which were determined as target markets were creating important opportunities for SMSEs. He said that they aimed to make all SMSEs ''exporters SMSEs'' in coming period and they would provide all kinds of support to SMSEs to fulfill this target.
(GC-Öª) 30.11.2003