Poverty in Turkey ‘at lowest level in 10 years’

GAZİANTEP - Anadolu Agency

Poverty in Turkey is at its lowest level in the last 10 years, World Bank Turkey director Martin Raiser said late on March 10, speaking at a World Bank presentation meeting at the Chamber of Industry in the southern province of Gaziantep.     

“Today, the poverty rate in Turkey is at 5 percent, while 10 years ago it was around 16 percent,” Raiser said.

“Turkey’s economic transformation is an inclusive transformation and growth will continue to go in this direction,” he added, referring to the country’s growing middle class. 

Raiser noted that Gaziantep was one of Turkey’s most dynamic provinces and an example to others.

Speaking at the same event, Gaziantep Chamber of Industry Chairman Adil Konukoğlu also paid tribute to the city’s industrial growth, noting that while the value of Turkey’s exports has increased 13-fold over the past 25 years, Gaziantep’s exports have increased by 56 times.