Posted by meb at June 28th, 2008

Turkey’s policy of determining strategies to enhance exports result in a considerable contribution to the overall export volume. These strategies are expected to be implemented until at least 2010.

An example of such success, the “Neighboring and Regional Countries Export Strategy” was put in place eight years ago. That year, exports to the countries covered by this strategy totaled $6.9 billion. As of the end of 2007, they have reached $40.7 billion.

Imports from the same countries increased from $13.1 billion to $57.8 billion in the same period. Turkey’s trade volume with neighboring and regional countries reached $98.5 billion from $20 billion, a 276 percent increase in the same period.

Within the framework of the strategy, Turkish construction firms undertook 395 projects, worth $19.5 billion last year in 27 countries such as Libya, Qatar, Algeria, Turkmenistan, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Iraq and Russia. The figure stood at only $1.4 billion in 1999.

Road map for Africa:

Under the “Strategy to Enhance Economic Relations with Africa,” various action plans were implemented involving North African and Sub-Saharan African nations.

As of the end of 2007, Turkey’s exports to the region reached $6 billion, while it stood at $2.1 in 2003. Imports, totaling $3.3 billion in 2003, increased to $6.8 billion in the same period. Overall trade volume reached $12.8 billion from $5.4 billion, an increase of 137 percent.

Yield from Turkish construction companies’ activities in Africa increased to a record $6.7 billion in 2007, while it stood at $611 million in 2003.

The Asia-Pacific region, the fastest growing economic region in the world, was dealt with the “Strategy to Develop Economic Relations with Asia-Pacific Countries,” implemented in 2005.

The strategy aims to elevate exports to the region to $8 billion as of next year, from $2 billion in 2004.

Aiming to enhance economic relations with the region’s countries, the export amount, which stood at $2 billion in 2004, is targeted to reach $8 billion within the next five years.

The government also utilizes a “Strategy to Enhance Commercial and Economic Relations With the U.S.,” which also aims to increase exports to the world’s biggest consumer.
source: Turkish Daily News