Meeting with representatives of the business world on Tuesday evening, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım gave five important messages. Urging businesspeople to support their customers, Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and tradespeople, in particular, and help them access financing opportunities to back development, Yıldırım advised them to stay close to the markets, be reasonable in collateralization and continue providing loans and support for economic activities.

In the meeting, PM Yıldırım assured businesspeople that the government is doing what is best and necessary for Turkey and will continue doing so, stressing that they should keep believing in Turkey's future, making investments and providing funds to investors in order to keeping the economy thriving.

'We are face to face with a perception operation'

Pointing out that Turkey's economy is strong, its macro balances are solid, political stability is permanent and the banking sector is healthy, Yıldırım expressed his gratitude to the banking sector for their sensitivity and efforts it showed to markets to pull themselves back together and recuperate following the coup attempt. He said Turkey is face-to-face with an undeserved, negative perception operation with multifaceted objectives, and everyone who loves his or her country and nation is responsible for reversing it. Noting that the best way to improve expectations is to scare off the fear, Yıldırım touched upon the necessity of non-stop, high-speed growth.

'Stay close to shopping districts'

Suggesting that keeping in touch with all sections and sectors is essential for growth and development to continue, Yıldırım said the banking sector has vital obligations in this matter. The country needs its banks and financial circles more now than ever, and the preliminary condition for banks to grow and work properly is economic growth, Yıldırım said, urging businesspeople to support their customers, SMEs and tradespeople, in particular. He added that they need to help customers access financing opportunities, stay close to shopping districts, be reasonable in collateralization, continue providing loans and support economic activities to back production, investment, export and employment and development.

'Growth will rise to 5 percent'

Prime Minister Yıldırım added they will back all sectors that contribute to the country's economy by producing and investing. Highlighting that maintaining a growth rate of around 3-4 percent is insufficient and they will continue taking all necessary measures to accelerate growth, Yıldırım stressed they will make sure the growth rate rises to 5 percent. "2017 will be better. We will be stronger. Do not miss the opportunities and growth trend while looking out for risks," Yıldırım stated.

'We have strong resources'

The Banks Association of Turkey (TBB) recalled that the July 15 coup attempt was prevented by the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Prime Minister Yıldırım, and expressed their gratitude. Sector representatives emphasized that Turkey has a strong democracy and supremacy of law in addition to the resources and experience to overcome all obstacles thanks to its economic tradition based on market mechanisms.

'Keep contributing to growth'

Pointing out that Turkey has continued its development despite the recession in economic growth and shrinkage in trade volume, bankers said economic policy that looks out for stability and growth has played an important role in this matter. In the meeting, sector representatives promised to keep contributing to the acceleration of growth along with a complete understanding of their responsibilities, adding that they are also expecting important regulations to provide more support to the country's economic growth, and they submitted their requests to the prime minister.