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Erdogan in Riga: U.S. and European media expressing unfounded criticism about the Turkish economy

BC, Riga, 23.10.2014.Print version
In his address at the opening of the Latvia-Turkey business forum in Riga today, recently-elected Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said that it can be observed that U.S. and European media, as well as credit-rating agencies, are expressing unfounded criticism about the Turkish economy, reports LETA.

Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Andris Berzins. Riga, 23.10.2014. Photo: president.lv

Erdogan also thanked his ''dear friend'', Latvian President Andris Berzins, who invited him to visit Latvia, and added that this is his first visit to an EU country as Turkish president. The Turkish president explained that Latvia has seen substantial progress in foreign investment volumes, which has led to much positive change in the country.

''It is clear that our economies will only benefit from the expansion of cooperation,'' said Erdogan.

 

Speaking about the reasons why Turkey is an attractive environment for foreign investment, Erdogan explained that the country has successfully avoided the events which have plagued other countries in the Middle East region for many years.

 

''This is exactly the reason why we are so actively involved in trying to solve the problems in the Middle East. We are trying to ensure peace and stability in our region. I advise to carefully analyze commentary about Turkey's economic figures, as those who do not have a good knowledge of the region cannot fully analyze the crisis in the region. Unfortunately, people are making mistakes in their presumptions about the situation in Turkey,'' Erdogan said, adding that it can be observed the U.S. and European media are expressing unfounded criticism about the Turkish economy.

 

As LETA was informed by the Latvian Investment and Development Agency, Turkey is Latvia's 23rd most important foreign trade partner, and that the total value of trade between the two countries reached EUR 248.8 million in 2013.

 

Latvia exported goods and services worth EUR 153.5 million in 2013 (1.1% of total exports), while Turkey exported to Latvia EUR 95.3 million worth of goods and services in 2013 (0.6% of total imports).

 

Turkey is also the 32nd largest investor in Latvia.

 






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