Turkish economy minister: Turkey's export to reach 135 bln USD in 2011

ISTANBUL (A.A) - Turkish Economy Minister Zafer Caglayan said that Turkey's export would reach 135 billion USD by the end of 2011. "Our export is 120 billion USD between January 1 and November 24, 2011", said Caglayan who spoke at a conference organized by Saudi Arabian National Commerce Bank (NCB) in Istanbul on Friday. Caglayan said that NCB was one of the most important and meaningful investments of Saudi Arabia in Turkey, adding that Saudi Arabia made 226 investments in Turkey so far. "Turkey is currently making export to 239 countries and custom zones", said Caglayan, adding that Turkey would grow nearly eight percent by the end of 2011. Noting that direct investments made in Turkey in the first nine months of 2011 were 10.9 billion USD, Caglayan said that 92 percent of this investment was made by European countries.