Turkish Businessmen In Europe A Matter Of Pride For Turkey, State Minister

BRUSSELS - Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said Wednesday Turkish businessmen in Europe were a matter of pride for Turkey.
Speaking at dinner hosted in his honor by the Belgian Turkish Businessmen`s Association (BETIAD), Tuzmen said that around 100,000 Turkish businessmen provided jobs to 400,000 people in European countries.
Turkish businessmen in Europe contributed greatly to the trade volume between Turkey and the European Union (EU) which had reached 180 billion USD, Tuzmen said.
"Turkey`s road to the EU has ups and downs. We will never give up as the Turks have always looked towards the West," Tuzmen said.
"Europe needs Turkey. By the end of this century, the population in Italy will go down to 22 million while in Germany it will be 25 million. Europe can not give up Turkey," Tuzmen said.
(SOL-MS)