Fernandes praises dynamism of Turkish economy
Turkish Exporters' Union (TIM) Chairman Mehmet Buyukeksi hosted US Assistant Secretary of State Jose Fernandes at a lunch yesterday in Ankara. Speaking at the lunch, Fernandes said that he was very pleased with the dynamism of Turkish economy and Turkey's potential, adding that it has succeeded in becoming the world's 17th largest economy thanks to its economic reforms implemented at the beginning of 2000s. Stating that Turkey has played a gradually increasing role as part of an international economic society, Fernandes said that Turkey was a key actor in the G-20 system, setting an example to Africa and Middle Eastern countries as well. "Turkey does not intend to stay where it is. This is affecting me," said Fernandes, adding that Turkey wasn't happy with ranking the 17th in the world, but set a big goal to become one of the 10 largest economies in the world. Fernandes stressed that Turkey's growth was also important to the US and that Turkey was an attractive country for investors from the US as well.