Erdogan says "Turkey successful in unemployment issue"

Turkish prime minister said on Friday that Turkey carried out successful activities concerning the unemployment problem.

In his televised address to nation, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan commented on the latest developments in Turkish economy.

Pointing to the 6% growth in Turkish economy in the last quarter of 2009, Erdogan said such an achievement was a remarkable development especially during a period when Europe and the rest of the world struggled with serious problems.

Erdogan said Turkey made progress in economy thanks to stability and a powerful economic administration. Commenting on unemployment figures, Erdogan said the unemployment rate, which had been 15.5% in January 2009, dropped by 1% and amounted to 14.5% in January 2010, making a hopeful start for the new year.

"Turkey is successful in unemployment issue. The country is currently undergoing a transition process from a labor-intensive structure to a technology-based understanding," he said.

"Thanks to the move we have started in the services sector, I believe we will reduce these figures below 10%. We are displaying efforts to create job opportunities for the unemployed," the Turkish premier also said.

Describing unemployment as a national problem, Erdogan said it would be wrong to expect the government to solve all the problems.


/Trend/