In its weekly bulletin, the Central Bank said that Turkey paid back 384.4 million USD of foreign debt between November 1 and 18. Turkey's foreign debt repayments amounted to 10.6 billion USD since the beginning of 2009.
Turkey repaid 15.7 billion USD in 2008.
Turkey's chief of economy and Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan said Turkey has relatively been less affected by the global financial crisis with respect to other counties, because of economic reforms and regulations undertaken.
Babacan underlined that the Gross Domestic Product fell 14,3 percent in the first quarter of the year and 7 percent in the second quarter. Babacan added that the decline is expected to continue in the third quarter and a gradual increase is expected to start in the last quarter of 2009.
Economy chief further said Turkish economy is expected to grow 3,5 percent, 4 percent and 5 percent in 2010, 2011 and 2012 respectively.