PM Erdogan touts Turkish contractors' achievements abroad

Speaking at a ceremony in Ankara yesterday recognizing Turkish contractors' achievements abroad this year, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the government pays a great deal of attention to foreign contacts and is constantly working to boost Turkey's trade volume. Thanking Turkish contractors for making him proud with their work overseas, Erdogan said, "I have always been proud to hear from foreign presidents and prime ministers about the successes of Turkish contractors." He said Turkish contractors' overseas projects would reach $2.5 billion by year's-end, adding that the long-term goal is to have projects worth $50 billion all over the world. "Turkey ranks third in the world, after the US and China, in projects assumed by its contractors overseas," he said. "This is important, as it shows Turkey's potential. Facilitating a stable environment guided by an atmosphere of trust and the government's efforts to address our problems will help Turkey reach its potential. No one should doubt this. We will continue to succeed." On the global economic crisis and Turkey, he said the only way out of the crisis is to seek new investments opportunities to turn it into an opportunity. Erdogan said that the government is continuing to take measures to counter the crisis and to protect the real sector. He also said that the ruling Justice and Development Party's (AKP) candidates for next year's local elections in 46 provinces, including Ankara, would be announced over the weekend.