UPDATE - Turkey attracts some $13.2B foreign investment in 2018

UPDATES WITH MORE QUOTES FROM HEAD OF INVESTMENT OFFICE

By Murat Birinci and Ali Atar

ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkey attracted nearly $13.2 billion in foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2018, said the head of presidency's investment office on Monday.

The Netherlands and Azerbaijan were the top two sources of direct investments last year, Arda Ermut told a meeting in Istanbul.

"We want to receive 1.5 percent of total global direct investments. At first, we want to reach $18 billion [of FDI] then $20-25 billion," Ermut said.

The country aims to increase its share to 2 percent in the long term, Ermut stressed.

"Turkey has outperformed the emerging countries in terms of attracting investment," he said.

Ermut added that the amount of direct investments decreased 14 percent globally due to rising risks in the global economy and protective policies.

Stating that FDI to emerging markets rose 2 percent, Ermut said 71 percent of global FDI was done by developed countries.