Caglayan praises increase in direct foreign investments in Turkey

Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan has said that Turkey was a safe harbor and shining star in the world with direct foreign investments which were increased by 74 percent in 2010 to reach $15.7 billion in 2011. In a statement released on Monday, Caglayan said that Turkey has been maintaining its position as a center of attraction for investors, despite a great many problems suffered worldwide. Caglayan added that an inflow of direct foreign investments into Turkey totaling $3.3 billion in December 2011 was the most distinctive evidence of this situation. Caglayan reiterated that direct foreign investment flow into Turkey in 2011 ranked the highest fourth in history of Republic. Stating that 71 percent of direct foreign investments into Turkey came from EU-member countries, Caglayan added that Austria which has ranked the first in the list of countries making the highest amount of direct investments into Turkey with $2.24 billion was followed by Spain with $2.23 billion and the Netherlands with $1.16 billion in 2011.