OECD head: "Turkey is the strongest economy in our group this year"

Turkey is the strongest country in the 33-member Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) this year, the group's Secretary-General Angel Gurria said yesterday. He made the remarks during a joint press conference in Ankara alongside Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan for the release of the OECD's 2010 report on Turkey. "Turkey was the strongest country in the OECD as we entered the year 2010," said Gurria, adding that while growth in many OECD countries fell short of expectations, "Turkey was an exception." Gurria also spoke of OECD expectations for the member countries. "We analyze countries, and as a result believe that in Europe the German and Turkish economies will remain strong, while the economies of the US, Canada and Japan will shrink," he said. According to the OECD's Turkey report, despite the global economic crisis, Turkey's level was upgraded from the Second-Degree Rising Country category to the Developed Rising Countries. Stating that Turkey has emerged stronger from the crisis, Gurria said, "This gives Turkey a golden opportunity to ensure full-fledged economic growth, and to make progress by combining economic and social prosperity in the post-crisis period."