Turkish PM says ‘better than expected atmosphere’ in meetings with foreign investors

LONDON

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Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has said he saw a “much better than expected atmosphere” in his meetings with foreign investors in London, claiming that he perceived no negative mood over geographical risks. 

“I saw a much better than expected atmosphere in my meetings with investors in London. I didn’t perceive any negative mood over geographical risks. Investors are quite confident about Turkey. They all want to benefit from rising economic activity in Turkey,” Davutoğlu told reporters on Jan. 19 in London. 

The Turkish prime minister started a one-week European tour on Jan. 17 taking in London, Davos and Berlin.

During the trip he is meeting foreign investors and discussing counter-terrorism measures with European officials. 

Ankara plans to increase the share of R&D activities in Turkey’s GDP from 1 percent to 3 percent, and Davutoğlu said he “heard pledges from investors to focus on research and development activities in Turkey.” 

This was his first meeting with investors abroad since the Justice and Development Party (AKP) regained its parliamentary majority in November 2015. The cabinet announced its revised Medium-Term Economic Program ahead of visits to Turkey by investors on Jan. 11. 

Davutoğlu will attend the Davos Summit on Jan. 20-23 after wrapping up his meetings in the U.K. capital. 

Europe’s ongoing migrant crisis and the threat of terrorist attacks will combine with the plunging oil price and China’s economic slowdown to give the political and business elites plenty to talk about in Davos from Jan. 19. 

Later in the week, Davutoğlu is due to meet German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin to hold a Turkey-Germany High-Level Cooperation Council meeting.