UN coordinator to Turkey: Turkey has the fastest development potential in its region

ANKARA (A.A) - 06.05.2011 - UN Resident Coordinator in Turkey Shahid Najam has said that Turkey, with its young population as well as creative and innovative private sector, had the fastest development potential in the region.
Speaking to A.A on Friday, Najam said that despite the global economic crisis, Turkey's financial sector remained sound thanks to tight measures in banking sector.
Stressing that the rise in foreign trade volume as well as the political stability in the country were very important, Najam said that Turkey strengthened its economic and political ties with regional countries with its policy of "zero problem with neighbors".
Najam said that Turkey should strengthen its investments, the education level as well as reforms that increased participation of women in every sector to reach its targets. He added that the UN was ready to support Turkey.
Noting that Turkey took place in "high human development category" according to UN Development Programme's index in 2010, Najam said that Turkey's gross national product per capita increased 112 percent between 1980 and 2010.
He added that the participation of women in local politics should be increased, and he expressed hope that there would be more women at Turkish Parliament after the upcoming general elections in June.
Najam began his term in office in UN Turkey on December 24, 2009.