10.01.2014 Kuala Lumpur / Malezya
The Turkish – Malaysian Business Forum was held in Kuala Lumpur with the attendances of TOBB/DEİK President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekçi, Malaysia Economy and Industry Minister Mustafa Muhammet and approximately 450 Turkish and Malaysian investors.
Speaking at the
Forum, TOBB/DEİK President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that despite
distance, Malaysia and the Malaysian people are special in their eyes.
Emphasizing that
they cooperate in many international platforms, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “The
agreement which regulates the trade relations between our countries dates back
to 1977. Since then, there have been agreements promoting bilateral commerce
and investment. The positions of our countries present significant opportunity
for cooperation. Turkey is in a customs union with the European Union. Turkey
is Malaysia’s door into the EU market. Likewise, Malaysia is the gateway for
Turkish entrepreneurs in the ASEAN market.
TOBB/ DEİK President
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the economies of Turkey and Malaysia are both
developing, “The combined economic volume of the two countries surpasses 1
trillion USD; the combined population surpasses 105 million in addition to the
combined trade volume approaching 1 trillion USD. Malaysia has succeeded in
diversifying its economy and mobilizing its people towards a singular goal
while also being in possession of natural resources. Turkey on the other hand
has achieved an economic transformation throughout the last thirty years,
almost akin to a miracle in its scale, becoming the largest market economy
between Italy and India.”
Drawing
attention to how economic dynamism and political stability of the last 10 years
have change the face of Turkey, Hisarcıklıoğlu went on: “It is evident that two
such promising economies should be working more closely. Our trade volume which
stands below 1.5 billion USD shows that we have much work to do.
That is why we
put great importance on this, the visit of our Prime Minister. We put great
importance on this business forum. We must come together more often. We must
take part in more bilateral and multilateral projects together.
As the Union of
Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey, as the Turkish business community,
we are prepared to do this. We are ready to do this as the Turkish – Malaysian
business Council. I would like to thank our Prime Minister for attending the
business forums. I believe that the coming days will be much more beneficial
for our bilateral relations.”
Economy Minister Nihat
Zeybekçi and the Malaysian Minister of Economy and Industry Mustafa Muhammet emphasized
the importance of bilateral Turkish – Malaysian trade relations and drew
attention to their goal to complete the negotiations for the FTA in the next
tour and raise the level of bilateral trade to 5 billion USD in the next 5
years.”