'Turkey to continue progress within free market system'

By Tuba Sahin

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey will develop and grow within the bounds of the free market system, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on Thursday.

Speaking to the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) in the capital Ankara, Erdogan said the country will take all its steps under the framework of the principles of the free market system.

"Whoever creates obstacles to foreign or domestic investors has to answer to me," Erdogan said.

Turkey is determined to bring down interest rates and inflation to desired targets, he added.

As laid out in Turkey's new economic program announced last September, the country's inflation rate target is 15.9 percent this year, 9.8 percent in 2020, and 6.0 percent in 2021.

"All indicators show that the country is entering an upward trend," said Erdogan.

After concluding the last in a series of elections this March, Erdogan said the government is leaving behind the period of polls to focus on action.

"We will use this four-year period optimally. Our preparations for the mid- and long-term programs are largely completed," he said.

Following local, parliamentary, and presidential ballots since 2018, Turkey is set to enjoy over four years without elections.

Erdogan underlined that the government is concentrating on structural reforms to strengthen the private sector.