Simsek: "Foreign investors have full confidence in our economy"

Speaking at a weekend conference in Ankara on improving the investment environment, State Minister for the Economy Mehmet Simsek said that in a UN report on foreign direct investment in 2007, Turkey ranked number 23 in the world and number nine among developing nations. Stating that Turkey attracted $15.3 billion of foreign direct investments in the first 10 months of last year, he said this shows that international investors have full confidence in Turkey's future. Turkey drew $22 billion worth of foreign investment in 2007. Simsek said that the same report said Turkey was one of the 14 most attractive countries for investors for 2008-2010 on the basis of the countries' business and investment environments and the ease of doing business. Touching on the global economic crisis, Simsek said avoiding it is impossible, adding that the government is taking all necessary measures to minimize the impact on the real sector. He also said that they support research and development and reducing employment burdens to improve the investment environment. Simsek also urged Turkish companies to make use of opportunities offered by the crisis.