Exports May Reach 60 Bn U.S. Dollars In 2004

ANKARA - ''Turkish exports may reach 60 billion U.S. dollars in 2004 with the rising trend in the first six months,'' Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said on Thursday.
Tuzmen told a meeting of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM) that the rising trend in exports contributed to the stable growth.
Stating that the performance in foreign trade was also good in 2003, Tuzmen said the growth rate had been 5.9 percent last year. He added rising trend continued in 2004.
''Turkish exports increased by 35.6 percent and reached 29.4 billion U.S. dollars in the first half of this year when compared with the figures of the same period of last year,'' Tuzmen noted.
''With this rising trend, I believe we can comfortably reach 60 billion U.S. dollars goal,'' Tuzmen stressed.
Tuzmen also added that developing of economic relations with African Countries was the new strategy of Turkey.
(AY-ULG) 08.07.2004