ISTANBUL: Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci said he expected record export growth in July and hoped exports would exceed $155 billion this year, after they fell 0.9 percent to $142.6 billion in 2016.
In comments to reporters late on Thursday, Zeybekci said Turkey will establish a free-trade zone for logistics and e-commerce next to Istanbul’s third airport which is being built northwest of the city. The minister said he expected talks on updating Turkey’s customs union with the European Union to begin this year and be completed in 2018. He also said Ankara was working on plans to make Turkey a centre for global gold trade.
