UPDATE - Turkey's July exports seem to rise over 20 percent

UPDATE WITH MORE REMARKS

By Tuba Sahin

ANKARA (AA) - Turkey’s exports in July seem to rise over 20 percent and reach highest July figure ever, head of Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM) said on Friday.

"Turkey's July exports will be important step to catch country's export target of $173 billion for 2018," Ismail Gulle told Anadolu Agency’s Finance Desk.

He predicted that Turkey's exports will surpass its target with prospering performance in coming months.

Gulle underlined that Turkey should increase its exports with neighboring countries.

"We should better read changes on a country basis. We must look into Iran separately, we should have a separate strategy and relation with our neighbors," Gulle said.

"Business comes before politics," Gulle said, and added that exporters will deepen their works on countries such as Iran, Iraq, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates.

He said Turkish exporters should also focus on African countries as current trade volume falls short of its potential.

"Africa is a new world, new market now. We should increase our trade volume with African countries," Gulle said.

He noted that TIM will introduce new projects which contributes to exports directly and new incentives in coming periods.

Gulle added that TIM members are not happy with higher interest rates.

"Turkey should lower interest rates, upward expectation in the rates will harm production, consumption and export," he added.