Turkey sets export target of $125 billion for 2008 (02.01.2008)

Turkey earned 105.9 bln USD from its exports in 2007. Nearly half of the exports, 56.9 bln USD in 2007, were shipped to 10 countries, according to figures of Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM).

Germany, Britain and Itay are the top three countries to which Turkey is exporting. These countries are followed by France, Russia, Spain, USA, Romania, the Netherlands and UAE.

Turkey earned 11.9 bln USD from its exports to Germany, 8.4 bln from exports to Britain and 7.5 bln USD from Italy in 2007.

Turkey is now looking to earn $125 billion from exports in 2008, approximately 25% more than was generated last year, Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said Wednesday.

Addressing a meeting of the Turkish Exporters’ Assembly (TIM) in Istanbul, Tuzmen said the performance of Turkish exporters had been impressive in 2007, with overseas sales topping $100 billion.

Tuzmen, whose portfolio includes being the minister responsible for foreign trade, said that the coming year would be a stellar one for Turkish exporters, pushing politics into the background.

“2008 will be a year where business will overtake politics,” said Tuzmen.

According to Tuzmen, Turkey’s 2007 export results were well above expectations, coming in $6 billion above target.

“Turkey’s monthly export figures are well over the annual export figures of many European Union countries, and we are moving ahead with decisive steps toward our exports target for 2023, which is $500 billion,” Tuzmen said.