30.01.2014 Italy
As a part of President Abdullah Gül’s state visit to Italy, the Turkey – Italy Business Forum was held. Attending the Forum were President Abdullah Gül, Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan, TOBB/DEİK President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, the Italian Foreign Affairs Minister Emma Bonino, the Italian Economic Development Deputy Minister Carlo Calenda, DEİK Turkish-Italian Business Council President Zeynep Bodur Okyay and Network Globale President Aurelio Regina.
TOBB/DEİK President
M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu touched on the importance of the business forum during
his speech and stated that he believes the results will be significant.
Emphasizing that they
put great importance on Italy, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We believe that Italy will
become one of Europe’s largest driving forces and that Italy will begin a new
period of growth; we are making our preparations with this in mind. The most
concrete evidence of this is the increased amount of investments from our
companies to Italy.”
Stating that the
increasing cooperation between Turkey and Italy promises great gains for both
sides, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Those who invest in Turkey during this period will
profit greatly. Turkey and the Turkish private sector will continue to grow. We
weathered a much worse crisis in 2001 than Europe did and moved past it in a
short period, as little as a year.”
Providing information
regarding Turkey’s economy, Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that they have achieved 67%
growth in the economy since the 2001 crisis, exports by 320% and provided an
additional 7.5 million people with employment – all in an environment of global
crisis.
Drawing attention to
the fact that only 1% of Italian investments are made into Turkey,
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they want to see much more Italian investments in
order to profit more.
Stating that
investments made into Turkey are in fact investments made into all of Central
Asia and the Middle East, Hisarcıklıoğlu went on, “Turkey, in this regard, is
an economic hub. The greatest companies of the world are directing their
Central Asia and Middle East operations from Turkey. Many countries form
partnerships with us to do business in those regions. We know this region like
the backs of our hands. We know who to do business with; we know which
investments will bring in profit. We procure the industrial goods of the region
and these goods are transported via our vehicles.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that they wish to increase bilateral trade with Italy, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “It
saddens me to report that despite Turkey’s growth, Italy’s share continues to
decrease. The numbers increase but ratios fall. In 2001, we conducted 8% of our
trade with Italy. Today, Italy’s share has dropped below 5%. We want to
increase this again.”
Explaining that
protective policies harm economy instead of helping it, Hisarcıklıoğlu reported
that companies are losing competitive power due to protective policies, the
economy is losing momentum and growth speed is decreasing.
Stating that companies
are faced with various difficulties, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Trucks carrying
Turkish goods are up against transit quota obstacles. We face these problems
both when trading with Italy as well as with transit passages. On the other
hand, Italian companies can easily enter bids in our country while our
companies face difficulties with just applying to bid.
Turkish companies
will bring dynamism and profit to Italy. So open the way for us, let us profit
and while doing so profit Italy as well. We are eagerly waiting for our
businessmen to be presented with solution to these problems.”
Expressing his
gratitude for Italy’s support in Turkey’s full EU membership process,
Hisarcıklıoğlu went on: “We would like to remind the Italian government, which
will take up EU Term Presidency during the second half of 2014, of the
sensitive matter of visas.
Turkish citizens and
businessmen are, contrary to the spirit of the Customs Union, are subject to
visa procedures while visiting European countries.
After arduous struggles,
we have finally signed the agreement which will lift visas in three years. At
the end of these 3 years, we hope that the support you’ve provided Turkey will
continue in order to completely lift visas.
Lastly we request you
support for the inclusion of Turkey in the ongoing negotiations for the
Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (T-TIP) between the EU and the
USA.
Having Turkey be
party to this agreement, which will reshape the rules of global trade, will
ensure that trade and investment relations between our countries will rise even
further.”
- President Abdullah Gül
President of the
Republic of Turkey, Abdullah Gül expressed his pleasure in attending the
meeting, “I would like to thank the representatives of the Turkish and Italian
business communities who have organized this Forum. I am here on a state visit
on the invitation of President Napolitano. In 2009, he accepted my invitation
to visit Turkey resulting in a very successful visit. Four years later, we have
taken the visit beyond a mere state visit. We have been treated to
Mediterranean hospitality from the moment we stepped off the plane.”
Stating that despite success
in political relations between the two countries, the economic, trade and
investment relations between the two countries need to be improved, President
Gül invited Italian business community to take advantage of the opportunities
in Turkey.
In closing, President
Gül expressed hi well wishes and stated that the economies of both countries
would grow as the private sectors grow.
- Deputy Prime Minister Babacan
Deputy Prime Minister
Ali Babacan stated that the two countries are friends and allies, forming a
partnership around shared values and ideals; working together in such platforms
as NATO, the European Council and G20.
Drawing attention to
the fact that Italy has staunchly supported Turkey’s bid to enter the EU,
Babacan stated that intergovernmental summits, Turkish-Italian Forum,
Turkish-Italian Media Forum and similar organizations have positively impacted
the relations between the two countries.
Stating the need to
focus on SMEs as a result of the characteristics of both economies, Babacan
reported that, as the government, they try not to get in the way of business
and that they aim to remove all obstacles.
Providing information
in regards to the status of the Turkish economy, Babacan stated that there has
been a great transformation within the last ten years.
- Italian Foreign Affairs Minister Bonino
Italian Foreign
Affairs Minister Emma Bonino stating that they have been friends with President
Gül since his days as State Minister, said, “I hope that your visit has been
satisfactory.”
Praising the
robustness of the relationship between Turkey and Italy, Bonino went on to
state that Italy ivews Turkey’s membership in the EU favorably and stressed the
need to give momentum to present relations, saying that Turkey is the EU’s
largest trading partner despite not being a member of the EU.
Bonino invited
Turkish entrepreneurs to EXPO 2015, stating that it would broaden their
horizons.