Turkish businessmen wait for end of IMF talk
Güncelleme Tarihi:
by Özgül Öztürk - Referans
OluÅŸturulma Tarihi: Åžubat 16, 2009 00:00
ISTANBUL - With the ongoing wait for a deal with the IMF raising nerves, businesspeople have said Turkey does not have the luxury to reject a deal.
Speaking to Referans business daily, business representatives said Prime Minister Recep Tayyip ErdoÄŸan was right in emphasizing Turkey’s interests in talks with the International Monetary Fund, but the "style" was wrong.Â
"Turkey needs an IMF agreement," said Tuncay Özilhan, chief executive of Anadolu Holding. "Such a deal is important to restore confidence and to keep the financial sector healthy. Turkey has sealed nearly 20 agreements in the past with the IMF. The prime minister knows what is different this time. As we do not have information on the contents of a possible accord, we cannot comment."
A total of 38 countries have taken precautions against the crisis, but Turkey is "still thinking," said Mustafa Boydak, president of the Kayseri Chamber of Industry and Trade. "We have to take precautions as soon as possible," he said. "As Turkey, we do not have the luxury to say no to the IMF. If the deal is extremely against our interests, of course there has to be some sort of correction. But not with this style."
Supporting the government’s position, Rızanur Meral, president of the Turkish Confederation of Industrialists and Businessmen, or TUSKON, said he was against a deal that halts growth and stops public investments. "A deal should stabilize the market," he said. "Turkey is a trusted borrower from the IMF. They always would want to do business with us. We have to be aware of this advantage and bargain strongly.
A deal that does not accept everything the IMF imposes would be beneficial." "An IMF deal is beneficial for us, considering current conditions," said Abdülkadir Konukoğlu, chairman of the board of directors at Sanko Holding. "But we have to keep the nation’s interests in mind. We businessmen are looking at the conditions of our bank loans, so the government also has to look at the conditions while talking with the IMF."
"Turkey needs an IMF agreement," said Tuncay Özilhan, chief executive of Anadolu Holding. "Such a deal is important to restore confidence and to keep the financial sector healthy. Turkey has sealed nearly 20 agreements in the past with the IMF. The prime minister knows what is different this time. As we do not have information on the contents of a possible accord, we cannot comment."
A total of 38 countries have taken precautions against the crisis, but Turkey is "still thinking," said Mustafa Boydak, president of the Kayseri Chamber of Industry and Trade. "We have to take precautions as soon as possible," he said. "As Turkey, we do not have the luxury to say no to the IMF. If the deal is extremely against our interests, of course there has to be some sort of correction. But not with this style."
Supporting the government’s position, Rızanur Meral, president of the Turkish Confederation of Industrialists and Businessmen, or TUSKON, said he was against a deal that halts growth and stops public investments. "A deal should stabilize the market," he said. "Turkey is a trusted borrower from the IMF. They always would want to do business with us. We have to be aware of this advantage and bargain strongly.
A deal that does not accept everything the IMF imposes would be beneficial." "An IMF deal is beneficial for us, considering current conditions," said Abdülkadir Konukoğlu, chairman of the board of directors at Sanko Holding. "But we have to keep the nation’s interests in mind. We businessmen are looking at the conditions of our bank loans, so the government also has to look at the conditions while talking with the IMF."