PARIS - Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday that the principal factor of assuring economic development and financial stability was to pursue a financial discipline and reach primary surplus target.
Speaking at the meeting of Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), Erdogan said, ``Turkey will never make concessions of this matter (achieving primary surplus target). Turkey will not spend any money without finding the source.``
-GROWTH RECORD-
Erdogan recalled that Turkey had realized a growth rate of 7.9 percent in 2002, and this rate was achieved as 5.9 percent in 2003.
Noting that Turkey had recorded 13.5 percent growth rate in the first half of 2004, Erdogan stressed that this rate was a record.
-FOREIGN TRADE-
Erdogan stated that atmosphere of confidence in Turkey increased exports and imports, and noted that the year-end foreign trade volume would exceed 150 billion U.S. dollars.
Pointing out that Turkey`s exports were expected to exceed 60 billion U.S. dollars by the end of 2004, Erdogan said, ``we are taking necessary measures to continue this dynamism in coming years.``
-INFLATION UNDER CONTROL-
Erdogan said that annual inflation in consumer prices were decreased to one-digit figure, and the lowest figure recorded in the last 30 years, and noted that the annual inflation in consumer prices was realized as 9 percent by the end of September.
Six zeroes would be omitted from the Turkish lira (TL) as of the beginning of the new year, as a concrete result of the success in fight against inflation, Erdogan stated.
-TURKEY, AN ENERGY CORRIDOR-
Erdogan said that Turkey constituted an energy corridor, and pioneered several oil and natural gas projects in recent years.
Noting that significant progress had been made in Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan oil pipeline project, and Baku-Tbilisi-Erzurum natural gas project in recent years, Erdogan said, ``first oil through Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan line will reach Ceyhan mid-2005.``
-TARGET IN TOURISM IS TO BE AMONG FIRST 10 COUNTRIES-
Regarding tourism targets, Erdogan said, ``we expect inflow of 17 million tourist, and aim to earn 13 billion U.S. dollars from tourism by the end of this year.``
Erdogan stated that Turkey aimed to be among the first 10 countries which were visited the most in the world.
(BRC-AÖ) 21.10.2004