ANKARA
Turkey's economy minister has said the country's exports in the first five months of 2012 had seen a record high to reach $60 billion.
"Sixty billion USD in the first five months is a first for the Turkish Republic. And exports in the past 12 months has exceeded $140.5 billion," Zafer Caglayan told a meeting in the Turkish capital, Ankara.
Caglayan said Turkey's per capita tourism revenue increased to $637 and the overall income from tourism reached $23 billion, adding that the Turkish government targeted to boost figures to $1000 and $30 billion, respectively.
Caglayan said the European Union grew 1.5 percent last year and that the European growth figure would be at least 0.3 points higher if Turkey was member of the Union.
"This is clearly demonstrates that it is the EU that needs Turkey, not the other way round," Caglayan said.
Caglayan said Turkey's position in the IMF had changed, adding that the country would have a boosted representation in the Fund within the next couple of years.
Writing by Mert Bezgin
Editing by Huseyin Kosger
