Turkey's deputy premier briefs investors on investment environment in Turkey

HONG KONG (A.A) - Turkey's deputy prime minister met a group of investors in Hong Kong and briefed them on the investment environment in Turkey. Ali Babacan talked about advantages investors had in Turkey, Turkey's economic reforms and political stability as well as Turkey's foreign policy and its effects on the geography. Babacan said Turkey assumed a significant role in energy transportation routes, and noted that Istanbul had been re-located as a finance center. "International Institute of Finance (IFC) has opened an office in Istanbul, and it is the first IFC office outside Washington," he said. Babacan said many global companies opened representations in Istanbul, and noted that Turkey had a strong banking system. Turkey welcomed the recent economic crisis in Europe with a robust banking sector and public finance, and a strong government, Babacan said. "The government has made decisions, taken steps, and done what it has to do," Babacan also said. (Reporting by Ali Ihsan Cam)