Turkey Eyes IMF Assistance to Close Funding Gap

Turkey is seeking assistance from the International Monetary Fund to help ease a projected financing deficit of around USD15 billion to USD30 billion in 2009, Economy Minister Mehmet Simsek was quoted by

as saying. "I think (the financing gap) is between USD15-30 billion. An IMF programme is needed to overcome concerns about the financing deficit," he said as negotiations between IMF and Turkey are slated to resume on Jan. 8. The Eurasian country is reportedly requesting for a USD25 billion loan from the fund, government sources said.