Türkiye Anticipates Surge in Foreign Investments Post-Election

Turkish Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek. (The minister’s account on X)
Turkish Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek. (The minister’s account on X)
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Türkiye Anticipates Surge in Foreign Investments Post-Election

Turkish Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek. (The minister’s account on X)
Turkish Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek. (The minister’s account on X)

Türkiye expects a substantial increase in international investments, notably in mergers and acquisitions, after the upcoming March 31 elections.
Turkish Treasury and Finance Minister Mehmet Simsek has anticipated a substantial surge in foreign investments and capital flow into the country in the aftermath of the upcoming local elections, slated for March 31.
Asserting that Türkiye currently stands near the lowest volatility range of exchange rates among developing nations, Simsek underscored on Saturday in statements to the press the importance of maintaining macroeconomic stability, particularly price stability, as a key strategy to bolster long-term growth potential.
Between June and September, Türkiye witnessed a favorable shift in capital flows, recording an inflow of $4.9 billion, a stark contrast to the flow of $2.9 billion during the initial five months of the year.
The public and private sectors have remarkably enhanced access to global market financing.
Furthermore, the Turkish bond index has exhibited a robust performance compared to other developing nations.
Simsek also brought to light that Türkiye’s foreign currency reserve accumulation peaked at $98.5 billion in May, marking an increase of approximately $36 billion.
This signifies the highest reserve level since 2014, which stood at $134.5 billion. The demand for Turkish Lira loans continues to be high, despite the limited requests for foreign currency loans.
Simsek expressed his belief that the demand for Turkish assets will notably grow in the upcoming months, especially post-election.
In addition to this, the minister unveiled plans to partially finance reconstruction efforts in regions impacted by the February 6 earthquake. This will be achieved through the issuance of long-term special bonds with a 10-year maturity, priced within standard market rates.
Simsek rounded off the discussion by addressing the reevaluation of tax exemptions for corporate deposits protected from exchange rate fluctuations, which are set to expire on June 30, 2024.
He also touched upon the ongoing normalization of monetary policy, which could potentially eliminate the need for such incentives.



Iraq Says Iran Used Forged Iraqi Documents on Oil Tankers, Tehran Denies

FILE PHOTO: A gas flare on an oil production platform is seen alongside an Iranian flag in the Gulf July 25, 2005. REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi//File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A gas flare on an oil production platform is seen alongside an Iranian flag in the Gulf July 25, 2005. REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi//File Photo
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Iraq Says Iran Used Forged Iraqi Documents on Oil Tankers, Tehran Denies

FILE PHOTO: A gas flare on an oil production platform is seen alongside an Iranian flag in the Gulf July 25, 2005. REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi//File Photo
FILE PHOTO: A gas flare on an oil production platform is seen alongside an Iranian flag in the Gulf July 25, 2005. REUTERS/Raheb Homavandi//File Photo

Iraq's oil minister Hayan Abdel-Ghani has said told state television that Iranian oil tankers stopped by US forces in the Gulf were using forged Iraqi documents.

US President Donald Trump's administration has restored his earlier "maximum pressure" policy on Iran, reviving a policy that seeks to isolate the country from the global economy and eliminate its oil export revenue in order to slow Tehran's development of a nuclear weapon.

"We received some verbal inquiries about oil tankers being detained in the Gulf by US naval forces carrying Iraqi shipping manifests," Abdel-Ghani said on state television late on Sunday, adding there had been no formal written communication.

"It turned out that these tankers were Iranian ... and were using forged Iraqi documents. We explained this to the relevant authorities with complete transparency and they also confirmed this."

Iran's oil ministry on Monday denied that Tehran had used forged official documents and said allegations that they had done so came from US officials, the ministry's Shana news agency reported.

"It's obvious that these allegations by US officials fold into the illegal... pressure on the nation of Iran and have no basis or credibility," Shana said.

Iran views neighbor and ally Iraq as vital to keeping its economy afloat while under sanctions. But Baghdad, a partner to both Washington and Tehran, is wary of being caught in the crosshairs of Trump's policy to squeeze Iran, sources have said.

Reuters reported in December that a sophisticated fuel oil smuggling network that experts believe generates at least $1 billion a year for Iran and its proxies has flourished in Iraq in the past few years, including by using forged documentation.

Abdel-Ghani said state marketer SOMO sold crude exclusively to companies that own refineries and does not supply trading firms.

"SOMO operates with full transparency and has committed no wrongdoing in the oil export process," he said.