Erdoğan says Turkey provided medical assistance to 125 countries

Turkey provided medical assistance to 125 countries amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said on June 14.

Speaking during the 12th International Conference on Islamic Economics and Finance via a video link,  Erdoğan said that Turkey is among the countries which are tacking the pandemic period with the least damage.

"In addition to meeting the needs of our own people, we have provided medical assistance to 125 countries around the world," he said.

Pointing out the country's first-quarter growth of 4.5 percent, Erdoğan said that Turkey has shown that it distinguished itself positively from other countries not only in the health sector but also in the economy.

"With the realization of the normalization calendar, production, trade, and tourism [sectors] have started to revive," Erdoğan added.

'Islamic economy can lead out of crisis'

Islamic tools offer a "key" to get out of the economic woes the world is now facing, Erdoğan said.

"Over-financing has created a bloated economic model, which acts only over concern about unearned income, without considering social and human costs," he added.

Though addressing long-term developments, his remarks took place against the backdrop of economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

"To finance long-term large infrastructure investments, the use of products such as sukuk should be expanded," Erdoğan added, referring to Islamic bonds.

"Contrary to what has been promised, the distribution of income and wealth is gradually deteriorating all over the world, and the gap between the countries widened," he also said.

"Every crisis that started in the financial sector quickly spreads to the real sector and creates...