Prime Minister Faiz Sucuoğlu on Thursday vowed to free the country of its economic problems.

Speaking on a special programme on BRT, Sucuoğlu said that he had met with representatives of economic organisations and was looking into ways of freeing the country from the current economic turndown.

Pointing out that the country’s two leading economic sectors, tourism and higher education, had been dealt a heavy blow because of the pandemic, the prime minister said that more than 70 sub-sectors had been adversely affected due to the lockdowns and restrictions.

“We have taken an oath to create an economy that can stand on its own feet,” he said, expressing his happiness over the spirit of solidarity and harmony shown by the business world in helping revive the economy.

Sucuoğlu said that they were seeking the views of the Attorney General on issues such as crypto currency trading and online betting.

Prime Minister Faiz Sucuoğlu also said that work was continuing towards increasing alternative energy sources such as the creation of solar power plants.

On the issue of tourism, Sucuoğlu said that there was a serious demand to build a new marina.

Also touching upon the Ukrainian-Russian conflict, he said that the TRNC, like other countries, was watching the developments with concern.

He reminded that most of the wheat used in the country was imported from Ukraine and that the recent spike in oil prices was also attributed to the war.

Responding to a question on a new airline company, Prime Minister Faiz Sucuoğlu said that most of the arrivals in the country were via air.

“Therefore the most important form of transportation is air travel and the biggest problem being experienced is the high prices of tickets. This puts a heavy burden on tourists and students flying to the TRNC. Turkish officials welcomed the idea of switching Ercan to domestic lines during my last visit to Turkiye. Hopefully we shall be taking steps on this issue,” he said.