Turkey to launch country desks for exports-imports

"We will launch 'country desks' practice," Caglayan told reporters in Istanbul.

Caglayan said the most important impact of the global crisis on all countries, including Turkey would be unemployment.

The Turkish minister said the loss expected in overall trade in the world would be equal to the national income of China or Germany, and four-times more than that of Africa.

Caglayan said Turkey made 55 percent of its exports to Europe, and the demand in Europe had shrunk.

"Despite this, Turkey made 57.1 percent of its overall exports to European countries in 2009," he said.

Caglayan said Turkey was trying to raise its share in those markets, and enter new markets.

The minister reaffirmed Turkey's export target for 2023 as 500 billion USD, and said Turkey aimed to be among the top ten economies in the world and create the top ten global brands that year.

"The new sectoral incentive system will go on till the end of 2010, and we have named 12 new sectors," Caglayan said.

Caglayan said the government was planning a short-term recovery for 2010, a medium-term plan for 2011-2013 period, and a change program for 2014-2023 period.

Turkey's exports fell to 102.1 billion USD in 2009, 22.6 percent lower than 2008. In 2008, Turkish companies had made exports worth 132.27 billion USD.

Turkey's imports also dropped in 2009 by 30.3 percent to 140.7 billion USD, compared to 2008. Turkey's imports had amounted to 201.96 billion USD in 2008.


/World Bulletin/