DEİK head predicts 5 pct growth in 2012

Speaking to participants at a dinner hosted at the Balıkesir branch of the All Industrialists and Businessmen's Association (TÜMSİAD), Yırcalı said Turkey has been moving steadily towards achieving its 2023 goals and its economy is doing well. He stated: “In 2011, we exported $148 billion of goods and the unemployment rate shrank to 9 percent. Regardless of the 2 percent growth predictions being made by international bodies, I predict about 5 percent growth.” He explained that Turkey has attracted $120 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) over last the 10 years, which demonstrates confidence in the country's political stability and economic growth.

He noted that DEİK has been working on an important project with the support of the government that seeks to bring together the 7 million Turks living abroad. He said: “We need to facilitate the coming together of first, second and third generation Turks and to help them develop good relationships [so they can better contribute to the countries in which they live].”