Top business leader urges govt to reconsider 2009 economic growth target

The government should make a budget based on the realities under the global economic crisis, and a 4 percent economic growth target this year is unrealistic, said Turkish Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) head Arzuhan Dogan Yalcindag yesterday. Speaking to reporters at a meeting of European ambassadors in Ankara, hosted by the Embassy of the Czech Republic, which hold the European Union's rotating term presidency, Yalcindag said, "The world economy is experiencing an important economic constriction due to the crisis. This is having an impact on Turkey's economy as well. Budget figures should be reviewed in light of this impact." She urged the government to realistically determine the state of the economy and base its figures on this assessment. Asked about last weekend's local elections, Yalcindag said, "Amid a continuing global economic crisis, Turkey focused on the elections, which took place in a general election atmosphere rather than a local one. Businesspeople are happy that the local elections are over. Now it's high time to concentrate on the country's pressing economic issues. We have a lot of work to do on this." Stating that during the meeting they discussed the crisis from the viewpoints of both the EU and Turkey, Yalcindag also said that the EU could open negotiations on the tax, employment and social policies chapters in Turkey's accession talks during the Czech Republic's presidency, which ends in June.