IMF Delegation Begings Contacts in Ankara

As part of the sixth review of Turkey’s IMF-supported economic program, the delegation met with Treasury Undersecretariat officials to discuss this year’s economic policies as well as budget targets for 2004. The delegation is expected to meet this week with State Minister for the Economy Ali Babacan and Finance Minister Kemal Unakitan as well as officials from the Central Bank, State Planning Organization (DPT), Banking Supervision and Regulation Agency (BDDK), the Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodities Exchanges (TOBB), and Eximbank. Following the review, the IMF is expected to extend a $500 million credit tranche to Turkey.