Babacan: War Strengthened Pessimistic Expectations In Global Economy

ISTANBUL - State Minister Ali Babacan said on Thursday that the war in Iraq strengthened the pessimistic expectations in global economy.
Addressing the opening of the Political Dialogue and Coordination Committee (PDCC) meeting of Facility for Euro-Mediterranean Investment and Partnership (FEMIP), Babacan said that the negative effects of the war would be felt more in neighbouring countries of Iraq like Turkey.
Babacan stressed that private sector's accession to suitable financial opportunities in markets in such tense periods carried great importance, reminding the importance of small and medium scale enterprises (SMSEs) within the private sector. The issue of solving the financial problems of SMSEs constituted a common priority for the Mediterranean countries, he said.
Babacan said that SMSEs' taking part in the stock exchange market and their getting finance by issuing bonds should be encouraged, adding that the government attributed great importance to SMSEs particularly those which work in Anatolia.
(ÖS-AÖ) 03.04.2003