Double-digit third quarter growth possible: Turkish PM

IZMIR

Turkey expects record third quarter growth, to become the fastest-growing G-20 country, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım said on Oct. 25 at the Aegean Economic Forum in the western province of İzmir.

“Don’t be surprised if year-end growth in 2017 is seven percent,” Yıldırım said, adding that third quarter growth might be “double digits.”

The official third quarter economic growth figures are expected to be released in December.

“Turkey may break a record in the third quarter. In the third quarter, Turkey will most probably be the fastest-growing country in the G-20,” Yıldırım said, adding that the economic situation will be “even better in 2018” compared to this year.

“The inflation rate will remain single digits and the growth target will be at least 5.5 percent,” he said.

The prime minister pointed to the improvement in the global economy and said a recovery in Europe would have a positive effect.

“But there are still some issues to be considered. Economic fragility and regional tension amid global crises are not yet over,” he said.