TOKYO - Trade deficit between Turkey and Japan was gradually increasing despite friendly relations between two countries, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Tuesday.
Erdogan, who attended a meeting held in Japan by Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) and Japanese Businessmen's Federation, informed Japanese businessmen about facilities provided for foreign investors in Turkey and asked them to invest in Turkey.
Recalling that activities held in line with 2003 Turkey Year in Japan were prolonged till May 2004, Erdogan announced that Turkey planned to declare a year as Japan Year in Turkey.
Erdogan noted that Turkey and Japan, two countries situated in the west and east edges of the Silk Road, attached special importance to further improvement of friendly relations in every field.
The Turkish government was determined to continue both political and economic stability ensured after the general elections held in November 2002, Erdogan stated.
Erdogan stressed that Turkey had become a more attractive country for foreign investments
Under a new law which entered into force in June 2003, foreign investors were equalized with Turkish investors, Erdogan said. He noted that this law provided foreign investors with a secure, stable and transparent environment.
Erdogan stated that trade volume in 21 free trade zones was 11 billion U.S. dollars.
Turkey was getting prepared for privatizing tobacco, alcohol, Turkish Telekom, Turkish Oil Refineries Corp. (Tupras), Petrochemistry Corp. (Petkim), Erdogan pointed out.
Erdogan said, ''our government is aware that passing new laws is not enough to pave the way for foreign investments. Investment environment rehabilitation coordination board continues its efforts for two years. In two years, it has become possible to solve urgent problems of investors like establishing a company in one day. But, we are aware that there are more steps we should take to rehabilitate environment of business in Turkey. Therefore, we held the first investment council meeting in Istanbul a month ago which was attended by World Bank Governor and chairmen of 20 giant international companies.''
Turkey had the opportunity to listen to recommendations of administrators of giant world investment companies during that meeting, Erdogan stated.
Erdogan said, ''I am glad to say that not only the World Bank but also the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and the chairmen of giant companies all think that Turkey is a secure place for investments. Most of companies which attended this meeting, including participants from Toyota company in Japan, declared that their investments in Turkey would increase in coming years. Concrete and constructive proposals were laid down to increase investments in Turkey.''
Touching on economic relations between Turkey and Japan, Erdogan said, ''despite strong friendly relations between two countries, I am sorry to say that trade volume between our countries is gradually increasing against Turkey. There is 1.7 billion U.S. dollars of difference between exports of two countries. We should overcome this deficit with our Japanese friends.''
Turkish and Japanese public and private institutions undertook important duties to improve commercial relations, Erdogan stated.
Erdogan asked Turkish and Japanese chambers of commerce and industry to exert more efforts to further improve economic and commercial relations.
Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan also stressed importance of promoting Turkish export products in Japan.
Erdogan, who went to Japan on Saturday, is accompanied by his wife Emine Erdogan, Turkish State Minister Ali Babacan, Turkish Transportation Minister Binali Yildirim, Turkish Health Minister Recep Akdag and Turkish Culture and Tourism Minister Erkan Mumcu, businessmen and journalists.
Turkish Prime Minister Erdogan attended a reception hosted in his honor by Turkey's Ambassador to Japan Solmaz Unaydin on Sunday.
He met with Japanese Prince Mikasa and Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi and received by Japanese Emperor Akihito on Monday.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan met with Turkish-Japanese Interparliamentary Friendship Group members at breakfast on Tuesday.
Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan separately met with Speaker of the House of Representatives of Japan Yohei Kono and the House of Councilors President Hiroyuki Kurata.
He will proceed to Aichi to visit Toyota facilities on April 14.
After attending a briefing and a luncheon in Toyoto facilities, Erdogan will proceed to Osaka to meet with the mayor of Osaka.
Prime Minister Erdogan is expected to return to Turkey later in the same day.
(BRC-AY) 13.04.2004