18.12.2013 İstanbul
The Turkish-Mexican Business Council Meeting took place in İstanbul hosted by TOBB and DEİK President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and attended by the Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, Science, Industry and Technology Minister Nihat Ergün and the businessmen from the two countries. Pointing out the importance of the Strategic Partnership in the 21st Century agreement signed by the leaders of the two countries, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that this key partnership would increase the weight behind Turkey and Mexico in the global order.
TOBB and DEİK
President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that they view Turkey and Mexico
as two of the most dynamic actors of the new global power architecture and
said, “As per the partnership declaration signed by our leaders yesterday,
Turkey and Mexico will create joint strategic policies on the global and local
scale.” Drawing attention to the fact that bilateral relations are not at the
desired level yet, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Our bilateral relations are not
becoming of our friendship. Our trade volume is 1.2 billion USD (Mexico 780,
Turkey 400) while only 1 billion USD of that is bilateral trade (206 imports,
867 exports). That is but a drop in the ocean. We must be introspective in this
instance. I previously stated this at the Business Forum in 2011 which took
place at Mexico City.
As Turkish business community, we must get to
know the most dynamic trade actor of the region, Mexico, better; and vice
versa. We must change this. It is my hope that this visit will be instrumental
in the formation of many new partnerships. If we are able to read global trends
successfully together, if we are able to take advantage of these, we will carry
our trade relations to new heights.”
- Hisarcıklıoğlu drew attention to 4 important matters
instrumental for increasing cooperation
Stating that
preliminary steps must be taken in order to institute a strong trade partnership,
Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “To begin, we must institute the necessary physical,
institutional and legislative infrastructure. First, Investment Incentive and
Double Taxation Prevention Agreements are very important for us.
Second, a Free Trade
Agreement signed by our two countries would solve the unfair commerce stemming
from the free trade agreement between Mexico and the European Union which
excludes Turkey.
Third is the matter
of visas and the visa procedures which our citizens are subjected to.
Efforts to solve
these problems by the political authorities of will encourage us as
businessmen.”
- Importance of Nieto’s visit
Stating that Mexican
President Nieto’s visit is very important, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “President
Nieto has caused great happiness with the first state visit on the presidential
level from Mexico to Turkey. You will start off a new period of bilateral
relations. I present my thanks to you for the importance you’ve put on Turkey
on behalf of the Turkish business community.
Stating that both
Turkey and Mexico are in positions of strategic importance in regards to
history and geography, TOBB and DEİK President Hisarcıklıoğlu went on to
provide information about Turkey.
He went on to say
that “As the Turkish business community we aim to increase our economic ties
with Latin America which has gone ignored for the most part until now.
In this regard, we
view Mexico as the most strategically important country for the Turkish
business community in regards to both bilateral trade as well as our entry into
the Latin American market.
Afterwards, Science,
Industry and Technology Minister Nihat Ergün stated that they regard it very
important for Turkey and Mexico to sign a free trade agreement and went on to
talk about the developments in Turkey in the last 10 years. Stressing the fact
that obstacles to economic activities adversely effect the global economy,
Ergün said, “Likewise, we are also of the opinion that visas need to be lifted.”
In his speech,
President of the Republic of Mexico, Enrique Pena Nieto said, “We want to
diversify our trade with Latin America and to enter new markets and horizons.
We are attempting to make entry into the Asia Pacific region. However, we’ve
also turned our eyes on this region of the world.”
Stating that the two
economies, Turkey and Mexico, provide ample opportunity for both to strengthen
themselves, Pena Nieto said, “We have discussed very important issues with
President Gül and signed important agreements, chief among them the Strategic
Partnership Agreement for the 21st Century.”
After the meeting,
President of the Republic of Mexico, Enrique Pena Nieto awarded Honorary Consul
to Mexico, Varol Dereli with a State Commendation.
Following the
meeting, an agreement for the construction of a facility
in Aliağa, İzmir, valued at 100 million USD was signed between the Kayseri
company ÇİNKOM and the Mexican Zinc Nacionel company.