14.12.2013 Ankara
The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, stating that Turkey will become one of the ten largest economies in the world in 2023, and said, “In order to achieve this we must continue with structural reforms.”
Speaking at the
opening of the first meeting of the TOBB Industry Chambers Council in the new
term at the social facilities of the Union, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu
stated that the world’s economy is entering a very different period and that
the developments are in essence a stress test for the countries effected.
Stating that
countries with dynamic private sectors and which address the issues of the
private sector are getting ahead, Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that countries which
fail to do the same would be left behind.
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that Turkey has overcome these troubles in a relatively short period of time
thanks to its strong private sector as well as the affirmative action taken by
the government and went on to draw attention to the fact that Turkey grew by a
total of 20% during the global crisis while Europe shrank. Hisarcıklıoğlu said
that this growth has directly reflected back onto the citizenry as employment
and wealth.
Hisarcıklıoğlu
pointed out that the European economy of 17 trillion USD has failed to create
additional employment since 2008 and said, “Turkey has created 4.5 million jobs
for its citizens Turkey during the same period. The Turkish private sector
created over 3.5 million jobs.”
Stating that Turkey
has achieved this despite the economic crisis experienced by its neighbors to
the west and political upheaval in its neighbors to its south, Hisarcıklıoğlu
said that this kind of success undreamt of in many countries in the world.
- “Structural reforms must continue”
Stating that the
greatest driving force behind any country is its entrepreneurs and industrialists,
Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Despite global upheaval and uncertain conditions in our
region, the Turkish industry has proven itself through its dynamism and
robustness.”
Reiterating his
conviction that Turkey will surpass itself in 2023, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We
will become one of the world’s 10 largest economies, make our citizens 2.5
times wealthier than today. We believe and we have the power.
All we need to
achieve this is to continue making the structural reforms with the same speed.
As the obstructions to production, exports and employment are eliminated one by
one; as our competition conditions with our rivals become more level, our
industry will make another great leap forward.”
Minister of Labor and
Social Security Faruk Çelik pointed out the importance of companies on the
international scale and said, “We must focus on investments and production
aimed at decreasing imports. We must enact austerity measure and financial
discipline. We must never make compromises in regards to financial policy, even
in times of election.”