Former World Bank head: "Turkey has the world's best economic team"

James Wolfensohn, who headed the World Bank for nearly a decade until he left the post in 2005, on Wednesday sung the praises of the Turkish economy and the team steering it. Speaking to reporters in New York, on the sidelines of a promotional meeting for the Fourth United Nations Conference on Least Developed Countries to be held in Istanbul next spring, Wolfensohn said Turkey has recently been implementing successful economic policies and has set a commendable example not only for its region but for the entire world. "As far as I know, Turkey's economic management team is the best in the world," he added. "I have watched the team and its success with astonishment and admiration." He extended his praise to the economy-related ministers in the Cabinet, the Central Bank administration, and the chiefs of watchdog institutions in sectors such as banking. Wolfensohn conveyed his admiration in particular for Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the various Cabinet ministers responsible for the economy. Praising Turkey as a large, important country, Wolfensohn said he was hopeful of Turkey's continued success, which he called inspiring for other, less developed countries. He further asserted that the growth in Turkey's economy and its resilience is contributing to peace in the region, which promotes better conditions for trade and wealth generation.