2 yıl önce

Turkiye minister reassures holders of lira assets

Finance Minister Nureddin Nebati says his ministry worked with Central Bank for days to study alternative scenarios and found that "even in the worst-case scenario" lira-holders will "come out better off."

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Nebati's comments came hours after his ministry announced a new measure in which Turkiye will compensate lira depositors for foreign currency fluctuations.

The Turkish lira is moving towards a level where it will find its true balance, Treasury and Finance Minister Nureddin Nebati has said, day after the lira gained strength against the US dollar.

"The Treasury and Finance Ministry has worked with the Central Bank for days, studying alternative scenarios. Even in the worst-case scenario, individuals [lira-holders] come out better off," Nebati told local broadcaster TRT Haber.

"We have a strong economic model. The basis of our model is high growth and a low current account deficit," he said.

"Turkiye will seize this historic opportunity. We will solve the current account deficit problem through achieving macroeconomic stability and increasing production and exports," Nebati said.

On the high fluctuations in exchange rates seen in recent weeks, he said: "Turkiye's macroeconomic indicators have no way of pushing the value of the US dollar against the Turkish lira that high. The Turkish lira is moving towards a level where it will find its true balance."

Nebati's comments came hours after his ministry announced a new measure in which Turkiye will compensate lira depositors for foreign currency fluctuations while encouraging citizens to move towards Turkish lira-based assets.

Alternative scenarios

Under the facility, if the yield remains below the exchange rate difference between the account opening and its maturity dates despite the earned interest, the Treasury will compensate the depositor.

The new FX-protected Turkish lira deposits tool will be available for individuals who have a lira deposit account with a maturity of three, six, nine, or 12 months.

Nebati said the Turkish government will never back down from its fiscal policy and it will make transparent economic policies and take macroeconomic measures that allow more foreseeability.

He emphasised that Turkiye's economy has the ability to rapidly recover from shocks and it has proven that to the world many times in the past.

Turkiye's economy posted growth in 2020 despite coronavirus-related lockdowns throughout the world, Nebati reminded, noting that he expects the economy to post a double-digit growth figure this year.

The minister also said the government will simplify the value-added tax and expedite the tax return process.

SOURCE: AA