British Consul: "Turkey and UK will benefit from closer relations"

Turkey and the United Kingdom will both benefit from closer commercial and political relations over the next five years, said UK Consul General in Istanbul Jessica Hand in an interview published today. "Turkey is likely to become a top world economy, and the second-largest economy after the UK in the European Union in 30 or 40 years' time," said Hand, adding that this growth can benefit the economies of both countries. Last month Prime Minister Erdogan hailed a "golden age" in Turkish-British relations,, in remarks later reiterated by his British counterpart David Cameron during his first official visit to Turkey. Cameron's comments show a "commitment to a dynamic commercial relationship," said Hand, saying that with its young population, entrepreneurial spirit and rising educational standards, Turkey makes an attractive market for the UK.