ANKARA - Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen stated that exports reaching nearly 8.9 billion USD in March, constituted the highest export figures on monthly basis so far.
Speaking at a news conference in Customs Undersecretariat, Tuzmen briefed reporters on export figures.
-EXPORT FIGURES IN MARCH-
Commenting on the exports amounting 8.9 billion USD just in March, Tuzmen emphasized that Turkey reached such a monthly figure for the first time in its history.
"We hope to reach a 100 billion USD-export figure this year, as we promised," Tuzmen, noted.
-GROWTH RATE-
Replying to questions on "growth rate figures" made public today by Turkish Board of Statistics (TUIK) as well, Tuzmen said, "Turkey's growth is achieved thanks to foreign trade. Export is the engine of such process. The rise in foreign trade is the main reason why Turkey has been growing for the last 20 quarters consecutively".
-MODERNIZATION OF BORDER GATES-
Replying to a question on whether "Turkey would open a border gate at Anamur district of southern city of Mersin which is the nearest point to Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC)", Tuzmen stressed, they carried out activities to modernize the existing gates rather than opening too many new ones.
-SYRIAN DELEGATION'S VISIT TO TRNC-
Tuzmen also commented on the recent visit of a Syrian trade delegation to TRNC. Noting that he met the delegation prior to their visit to TRNC, Tuzmen said, TRNC gradually became an investment and attraction centre.