Planning and Budget Commission

A new sovereign wealth fund formed by Turkish authorities will be audited and adhere to international standards, Finance Minister Naci Ağbal has said in response to criticisms that the new fund will be devoid of any oversight.

The fund will be audited in three stages, Ağbal said. 

The government will provide agricultural incentives worth 12.8 billion Turkish Liras (around $3.8 billion) in 2017, Food, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Faruk Çelik has said, Reuters reported on Nov. 24. 

"We will provide a total of 12.8 billion liras of agricultural incentives to our farmers in 2017," Çelik said at parliament's Planning and Budget Commission. 

The Agriculturalists Association of Turkey (TZOB) has voiced opposition to a government decision to permit meat imports, saying the rise in domestic red meat production rules out the need for imports.

The government, however, has claimed the price of imported meat will not exceed local production costs as the main aim is to increase the number of animals. 

Five years into the conflict of the neighboring country, almost 70,000 Syrian babies have been born in Turkey so far, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Yalç?n Akdo?an has announced.

During a briefing to the parliament's Planning and Budget Commission on Jan. 28, Akdo?an elaborated on health services provided for more than 2.5 million Syrian refugees in Turkey.

A Feb. 28, 2015 agreement between ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) and Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) officials, dubbed the "Dolmabahçe Agreement," was not the product of a "negotiation," Deputy Prime Minister Yalç?n Akdo?an has claimed, adding that the intelligence services "would meet even the devil" if needed.

Central Bank Governor Erdem Ba?ç?, whose office term will terminate soon, said everyone should back the bank as the institution represents the dignity of this country, in his speech to the parliament.  He also signaled he won't say "no" to any offer to keep the post.

Ba?ç? made a 4-hour long closed door presentation to members of the Planning and Budget Commission on Jan. 7. 

Turkey's Prime Ministry office has spent some 460.7 million Turkish Liras of its total yearly budget of around 1 billion liras in the first two months of the year, according to the latest budget realization figures of the Finance Ministry.

A controversial clause granting Turkey's media watchdog the authority to fine TV channels that violate election broadcast limitations, while de-authorizing the High Election Board (YSK), has been withdrawn from the related omnibus bill at parliament.

Following the government's initiative to open Turkish schools abroad, the Health Ministry is now planning to open hospitals abroad, starting with Somalia and Sudan.

Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy Cevdet Erdöl said during a speech at parliament that the Health Ministry was considering opening training and research hospitals abroad.

Following the government's initiative to open Turkish schools abroad, the Health Ministry is now planning to open hospitals abroad, starting with Somalia and Sudan. 

Ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) deputy Cevdet Erdöl said during a speech at parliament that the Health Ministry was considering opening training and research hospitals abroad.