02.10.2013 Ankara
The business delegation lead by the US Chamber of Commerce Vice Chairman Myran Brilliant attended a dinner hosted by the TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu as a part of their Turkey visit. In his speech, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “The development of the economic relations between Turkey and the USA will benefit both countries greatly. Turkey’s financial transformation will benefit from it. Turkey’s 2023 vision will become even more meaningful.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
stated that Turkey has benefited greatly from the European Union to this day in
regards to its financial transformation and went on, “We’ve conducted most of
our foreign trade with the EU. Direct foreign investment into Turkey has been
mostly from the EU member states. Now, we want to form the same level of financial
ties with the US as Turkey has with the EU. We view the cooperation between
TOBB and the US Chamber of Commerce as a very important enterprise to support
this vision.”
Speaking
in regards to the history of Turkey – USA economic relations, Hisarcıklıoğlu
gave an example from Winston Churchill’s speech following the victory of El
Alamein in 1942 to illustrate the development process of Turkey’s economy,
“What was it Churchill said, ‘This is a victory not an end. It’s not even the
beginning of the end, but an end of a beginning.’”
- “We’ve come to the end of beginning in the
transformation process”
Stating
that the things which need to be accomplished during Turkey’s process of
transformation are not yet at an end, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We are nowhere near
the end of the process of transformation. At most, we are at the end of the
beginning of Turkey’s financial, social and political transformation process.”
Stating
that the financial cooperation opportunities between Turkey and the USA used to
be very limited in the past, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Today, our opportunity sets
have been greatly expanded. The figures, however, are not completely improved.
This dinner is very special for us; for Turkey and for TOBB.
This
is due to the fact that we have wanted to work together as TOBB and the US
Chamber of Commerce for many years. We’ve wanted to take on roles and
responsibility for the development of bilateral financial relations. We’ve emphasized time and time again that the
weight of the relations between Turkey and the USA should not be put solely on
the shoulders of diplomats and politicians. We’ve wanted to bolster the political
and military aspect of our relations by complementing them with the financial
relations and make them stronger.
We
are, at present, quite cognizant of the diversity of the US economy. We know
that each state is comparatively advantageous. Whatever is produced in the
world can also be produced in the USA. We know that the US Chambers of Commerce
can help guide us in this aspect. We have already begun working to this end.
Among
the subjects we are focusing on are bilateral trade, investment, tourism,
entrepreneurship and know-how transfer as well as cooperation in third
countries. The improved and deepened Turkey-USA economic relations will greatly
benefit both countries. Turkey’s financial transformation will benefit from
this. Turkey’s 2023 vision will become more meaningful.
Until
today, Turkey, In its transformation process, has benefited greatly from its
relations with the European Union. It has conducted most of its foreign trade
with the EU. Most of the direct foreign investments into Turkey have been from
the EU.”
- Importance of the G20 process
“The
developments in global economy indicate that the G20 process will be even more
important from this point onward. It is necessary to develop a new cooperation
mechanism in global governance.
For
the healthy operation of the global system, global economic policy coordination
must adhere to a better agreement. We will be bringing our views on this matter
to the B20 platform.
78%
of Turkey’s direct international investments go to the EU and the USA.
Therefore, Turkey will be directly effected by the Transatlantic Commerce and
Investment Partnership Agreement between the EU and the USA. That is why we
consider it very important for Turkey to be involved in this process.”
- US Chamber of Commerce Vice President Myran
Brilliant
During
his speech, the US Chamber of Commerce Vice President Myran Brilliant, touched on the
importance of the relations between the two countries and stressed that they
wish to increase cooperation. Stating that they have been hosted by 9
ministries in two days, Brilliant said, “We are truly being spoiled in Ankara.”
Pointing out that the strength of all other relations will be determined by how
well the foundations of economic relations have been laid, Brilliant said that
there were many uncertainties present in the Middle East at the moment. Myren
Brilliant said, “Everything is quaking in the region. There are issues. The
Arab Spring did not take full effect. It is in this environment that Turkey and
the USA should consider forming a more concrete cooperation.”