DAVOS - State Minister Ali Babacan said on Friday that when economic parameters were considered, 2003 has become a good year in every point of view.
Babacan told reporters in Davos, Switzerland where he visited to attend World Economic Forum that he had nearly 15 bilateral meetings and had delivered a speech in a session, adding that he explained recent developments in Turkish economy in his meetings.
Noting that investors he had met with appreciated the progress Turkey made both in politics and economy in 2003, Babacan said that investors were positively impressed with Turkey's rapidly fulfilling reforms in regard to the European Union (EU).
Stressing that foreign investors wanted political and economic stability and a good business milieu in Turkey, Babacan said that Turkey was an attraction center for foreign investors as it was a main production and export center.
Babacan said that Turkey's position was perceived differently by foreign investors. He added, ''Turkey is a place where East and West and Europe and Asia, cultures and continents intersect. It is taken into consideration with this feature as a special situation and a special country. There will be a serious increase in foreign investments with concrete developments during EU process. I received questions about Cyprus issue during meetings and although Cyprus is not an official condition for EU, it is an issue which is considered important by EU. Finding a solution to Cyprus issue will have a positive effect on EU process. Expectations should not be increased very much. If a problem emerges in regard to EU, it will not be the end of everything.''
Babacan said, ''the region where Turkey takes place is an important region that EU cannot neglect. Turkey is a country which EU should not undervalue and neglect. It is right next to EU. The stability of the region, its security, how much it develops economically concerns EU very closely. Europe should follow and take into consideration the developments happening right beside it. Turkey is accepted as an example country in the region. Turkey has the quality of being an example to all countries in its region with its free economy and with its Muslim population and democracy that is functioning better each day.''
BABACAN: ''ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT ELEMENTS IN FIGHT AGAINST UNEMPLOYMENT AND CREATING EMPLOYMENT IS FOREIGN CAPITAL INVESTMENT FOR US''
State Minister Ali Babacan said on Friday that some success examples were needed in foreign investment, adding, ''one of the most important elements in fight against unemployment and creating employment is foreign capital investment for us.''
Babacan, who is currently in Davos, Switzerland to attend annual meeting of World Economic Forum (WEF), told reporters that if direct foreign investments were not drawn to Turkey sufficiently, Turkish investors who had gone abroad would hardly return back to Turkey.
Stressing that when foreign investors came to Turkey, local investors would be interested in them as well, Babacan said, ''foreign investors say 'Turkish investors do not make investment, so why I should make.' On the opposite situation, local investors say 'foreign investors do not make investment so why I should make.' Some success examples are needed in foreign investments. Nearly all foreign investors in Turkey have plans of increasing the capacity and have search of new places. The officials of Toyota have come to me and they want to make Turkey one of the most important production bases of Europe. They have taken their decision on the issue and they told me the difficulties in bureaucracy.''
(GC-AÖ) 23.01.2004