Turkey's priority to maintain stable economic growth

Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan said that the priority of Turkey was to maintain stable growth, increase employment and cut down current deficit, Turkish Anatolia news agency reported Thursday. The priority of Turkish medium-term economic program, valid between 2012 and 2014, is to "maintain stable growth, increase employment, go on with fiscal discipline, raise domestic savings, and cut down current deficit," Babacan said during a press conference in Ankara. "Thus, macro-economic stability will be strengthened," he added. Babacan said Turkey would closely monitor developments in global economy and implement policies in line with its medium-term economic program, according to the report. The Turkish government will continue to increase private sector investments, direct international investments and exports, the official said, adding that efforts will be intensified to make Istanbul, Turkey's largest city, an international finance center, and to reduce energy dependence. "We will go on to rehabilitate investment medium and submit a related legal arrangement to parliament as soon as possible," Babacan said. Turkey will be determined to diversify export markets and give priority to infrastructure public investments including education, technological research, transportation, potable water, and information and communication technologies, he said.