LONDON, March 8 (A.A) - State Miniter in charge of Economy Kemal Dervis was satisfied after the meeting with British Industry Confederation members in London on Friday.
''I can't say we managed to convince foreign investors entirely but we made a lot of progress,'' Dervis said after the meeting.
After a three-hour meeting with British investors, Dervis said that direct foreign investments should increase in Turkey's foreign and domestic finance balance in the coming years. He said that the balance should be found not by the borrowed moeny but by directs investments which is a more healthier method.
Pointing to the developments of Spain, Portugal, Ireland, Hungary and Poland, Dervis said all these countries integrated with Europe not by borrowing money but through direct investments.
Dervis said that the British investors who attended this morning's meeting asked if the economic crisis is left behind in Turkey, if macro economic balances were restored and if interest rates would go down. The British investors also inquired if coordination was provided among the state banks.
Pointing out that he tried to give clear and convincing responses to the questions of the entrepreneurs, and recalled that he had a similar meeting with the finance circles last september in British market. Dervis said since that he observed a positive change in the atmosphere, adding that this time he was exerting similar efforts with respect to real sector.
Dervis said, ''I can not say we fully succeeded and convinced everybody, but I can say we have taken important steps. Everybody feels that Turkey will gain a very big importance and include very big investment opportunities.''
Stating that one billion U.S. dollars investment which Toyota made in Turkey a while ago constituted an example, Dervis said, ''if such investments take place in Turkey, we can relieve with those sources. We wish this development in automotive sector to be reflected in other sectors.''
When Dervis was reminded that reports of some international finance institutions about Turkey were announced, and asked if those reports were influential on foreign entrepreneurs, Dervis said the reforms already made positive influences on existing entrepreneurs.
Recalling that a Japanese rating institution issued a similar positive report about Turkey, Dervis said, ''in fact we should attribute more importance to Japanes market. We have neglected that market.''
A journalist reminded Dervis the statements of National Security Council (NSC) Secretary General and General Staff about the European Union (EU), and asked if those would effect the EU route, Dervis in response said he was not informed about the statements, adding that he did not think the Turkish Armed Forces and the NSC thought of something contrary to the European strategy which has continued since Ataturk.
When Dervis was reminded the claims that there was disagreements between the coalition partners, and asked if the foreign investors relied on him personnaly, Dervis said, ''experienced investors know well that future of a country and society does not depend only on one person. Societies have their own dynamics. If entrepreneurs invest in Turkey, this is because they relied on the dynamics of that country and its long term future.''
Dervis's official contacts in Britain ended. Dervis and his wife Catherine are expected to return to Turkey on Sunday afternoon.