Turkish State Minister Kursad Tuzmen said on Monday that Turkey is targeting exports of 100 billion U.S. dollars in 2007 compared with 85.8 billion dollars exports in 2006.

Tuzmen said at the opening of Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM) meeting that Turkey's economic growth goes on without any interruption for 19 quarters.

"We are able to reach a target of 100 billion U.S.dollars in exports this year," Tuzmen asserted.

"Turkey has reached such a level in exports that it now sells over 20 thousand different goods to more than 200 countries," he added.

Meanwhile, he expected Turkey's imports to reach 135 billion dollars at the end of 2006 while the trade deficit would slightly lower to 22 percent compared with 22.8 percent at the end of 2005.

However, the state minister stated that an overvalued Turkish lira, import of capital and intermediate goods, unforeseen increases in oil prices, and a major growth in private sector investments have all made an adverse effect on the balance of current accounts.

The increase of Turkey's fuel bill, which accumulated to some 6. 5 billion dollars in the first ten months of 2006, also had a negative impact on Turkey's economy, the minister said.

Source: Xinhua