Turkey to make ‘second jump’ with new reforms, says minister

İZMİR - Anadolu Agency

Turkey should continue to make reforms in the new decade, says Development Minister Cevdet Yılmaz. AA photo

Turkey has realized many reforms over the last decade, but it should continue with a new series of “second jump” reforms, Development Minister Cevdet Yılmaz said during his closing speech at the 5th İzmir Economic Congress.

“We need to continue to make reforms in the new decade. Our 2023 targets are of great importance here,” Yılmaz said.

He noted that Turkey’s new five-year economic development program has already elaborated what the country needs to reach these targets in the coming five years. The plan envisions the national income reaching $1.3 trillion in 2018, thus increasing national income per capita to $16,000, annual exports up to $227 billion and tourism income up to $41 billion.“Our latest development plan also reveals our country’s willingness to change and reform,” he said.

Speaking during the opening ceremony of the congress on Oct. 30, President Abdullah Gül had also stressed that structural transformations in Turkey had yet to be completed and the country needed a “second generation” of reforms that privilege raising the quality of education.