Turkish aid agency head dismisses claims on budget

The head of Turkey's state aid agency on Wednesday dismissed recent claims on the size of the agency's budget, saying that its budget is actually only 3 percent of the claimed amount.

On Twitter, Serdar Cam, head of the Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TIKA), wrote: "Some circles are claiming that TIKA's budget is $4 billion, or nearly 18.5 billion Turkish liras. When we look at the approved budget from the Turkish Parliament, the budget the Treasury allotted to TIKA was 304 million Turkish liras. Meaning $65 million, or only 3 percent of the claimed amount."

Cam then added that TIKA's budget is "fruitful" in the way it used.

His remarks came after opposition IYI (Good) Party leader and presidential candidate Meral Akşener claimed that TIKA spends $4 billion a year.

Campaiging on Monday in the central Çankırı province, Akşener said: "TIKA is spending $4 billion. When I become president, I will demand an answer to this."

Established in 1992, Turkey's government-run aid agency is responsible for implementing Turkey's developmental cooperation policies overseas. The agency carries out development cooperation activities in 170 countries via its 58 program coordination offices in 56 countries across five continents.