Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Şimşek has said the targeted 4.5 percent growth rate stated in the Medium-Term Program (MTP) may not be achieved this year. Speaking to TRT regarding the current agenda, Şimşek said conditions have changed a lot since the MTP rate was determined during the November-December period last year.

Pointing out that growth and trade numbers have globally been revised downwards, the minister said growth this year might be lower than expected.

Stating that the downward risks related to Turkey's growth in the third quarter have increased, Şimşek stressed that the targeted 4.5 percent growth rate was unlikely to be achieved; their goal was to support growth and weight was thus given to reform. Şimşek said next week he would go on an Asian tour to review current developments, and in September, he will attend the G20 Summit with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, followed by one-week tours to Europe, Gulf and the United States.