ANKARA - Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said on Monday that Turkey would be among the most powerful economies of the world until 2023.
Delivering a speech in the opening of Turkey-Denmark Business Forum, Tuzmen gave information about Turkish economy and said that the inflation and interest rates dropped for the first time that much in the history and there was a big development in production.
Noting that Turkish government attributed great importance to the development of investment milieu, Tuzmen said that the necessary laws were adopted for this. He added that strategical position of Turkey would increase one more time by direct foreign investments and also there were very appealing investment facilities in Turkey for foreign investors.
Tuzmen said that the commercial relations between Turkey and Denmark were not reflecting the potential. He added that foreign trade volume of Turkey was 115 billion dollars and Denmark's was 120 billion dollars and total foreign trade volume of two countries was 135 billion dollars.
However, noted Tuzmen, trade amount of two countries was 700 million dollars in 2003, adding that this amount could reach one billion dollars this year when required effort was exerted.
Prince Joachim of Denmark said that they were following Turkey's fulfilling the European Union (EU) criteria with appreciation and added that they believed Turkey would be a member of EU soon.
Noting that Turkey was a modern society, Prince Joachim said that it was also presenting important opportunities to foreigners.
Prince Joachim said that Danish public and private sectors would continue to make investments in Turkey, adding that they would make investments especially in energy and environment sectors.
Tuzmen and Prince Joachim had a bilateral meeting before the forum.
(GC-AY) 19.04.2004