Government to reveal strategy to tackle black economy, PM Davutoğlu says

ANKARA

PM Davutoğlu speaks during the presentation of the 2015 budget. AA Photo

The Turkish government will announce a new strategy for its struggle against the unregistered economy in October or November at the latest, Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu has said.

The government also aims to take extra measures against waste of public resources, Davutoğlu said on Sept. 25, adding that the necessary preliminary steps would be taken by the end of 2014.

“We are considering serious, comprehensive measures to dispel additional costs arising from renting [using the public purse]. We’ll conduct a study to lower rental costs for cars and buildings and to minimize waste public expenditure,” the prime minister told reporters after a briefing given by Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan, Finance Minister Mehmet Şimşek, Development Minister Cevdet Yılmaz and other officials.

“I ordered a study of inventory records regarding recreational facilities, public housing, residences, and first and foremost on building and vehicles,” Davutoğlu said.

The issue of further privatizations was also discussed at the meeting, the prime minister added, stressing that the state should withdraw from certain areas. 

“The state must entirely withdraw from gambling and lottery games,” he said, touching on the fact that many of Turkey’s national lottery games were recently privatized.

Meanwhile, it was also revealed that work on a draft bill reforming income tax regulations is currrently in its last stages. For public reforms, the government should stick to a certain level of tax and practice that tax policy in a fair and equal way, Davutoğlu said.