28.01.2014 İstanbul
Speaking at the Turkish-French Business Forum attended by Turkish President Abdullah Gül and French President François Hollande, TOBB and DEİK President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they could surpass their target trade volume of 20 billion Euros with France – especially if the obstacles presented by visa and transportation quotas are abolished.
The Turkish – French
Business Forum, took place in İstanbul hosted by TOBB and DEİK President M.
Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu. Attending the Forum were Turkish President Abdullah Gül
and French President François Hollande as well as many ministers and
businessmen from both countries.
Hisarcıklıoğlu drew
attention to the long history of relations between the two countries. Stating
that increasing trade volume is an important indicator of cooperation,
Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that despite the global crisis, the bilateral trade
volume between the two countries still stands at 14.5 billion USD; Turkish
investments in France totaling up to 1.5 billion USD and French investments in
Turkey reaching 7 billion USD.
“We have been tasked
with a new goal by our Presidents: Increasing our trade to 20 billion Euros.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they have begun work to this end with Business
Council Sani Şener, Jean Lemierre, the leading counterpart from Medef and the
President of the French Chambers Union, André Marcon. I would like to thank my
friend André Marcon once again for his close affinity to the Turkish business
community.”
“We can achieve this
goal. There are very many sectors in which both countries are quite successful
in. We can improve our bilateral relations in conjunction with these sectors.
We can work together in Central Asia, the Middle East and Africa regions in
which Turkish companies have extensive experience in conducting business.
However we need our political leaders to remove the obstacles stopping us from
going forward. Turkish citizens and businessmen are, contrary to the spirit of
the Customs Union, are subject to visa procedures while visiting European
countries.”
Stating that the
segregationist mentality is to the detriment of everyone involved,
Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that trade relations between the two countries have
deteriorated. However, “President Hollande’s visit is a historical
opportunity,” said Hisarcıklıoğlu.
- The EU process
Hisarcıklıoğlu
expressed his belief that France, which embraces the values of freedom,
equality and fellowship, will: “Act free from captivity to matters better left
to historians; act in fairness equal to the previous applicants; and in the
spirit of fellowship as befits the history of friendship between our two
countries.”
- President Abdullah Gül
President of the Republic
of Turkey Abdullah Gül gave a speech during the closing ceremony of the Turkish
- French Business Forum, titled “Building the Future Together”, held at the
İstanbul Four Seasons Bosphorus Hotel, in which he stated that it will be quite
easy to achieve the bilateral trade volume goal they’ve set for themselves once
the obstacles to trade have been abolished.
Gül said, “We have a
trade volume of 40 billion USD with Russia. Why should it be unrealistic to
consider we can do the same with our ally?”
In regards to the
matter of EU membership, Gül said, “I ask the businessmen here, would it please
you more to be doing business in a country wherein the regulations and
procedures of the EU were in effect, or would you rather do business in one
which was not subject to such order? Hence, I will once again issue the call.”
Gül stated that the
state visit of French President Hollande and the businessmen accompanying him
would be successfully completed and that they would, “Reap the fruits of it
together.”
- French President Hollande
French President
François Hollande stated that Turkey was not the only country beset by visa problems;
however, he reported that he had given the necessary orders to the Foreign
Affairs Ministry to address the issue.
President Hollande
stated that his visit should be seen not as the first state visit by a French
President in 22 years, but as the opening of a new page in international
relations, a new era in politics.
He went on to say,
“We are in agreement with President Gül: We want the bilateral trade volume
between our countries to reach 20 billion Euros. That is our goal. This will
require the involvement of all companies.”
Hollande stated that
in order to enable companies to contribute economic reforms need to be enacted,
procedures need to be simplified and social dialogue must be undertaken as well
as creating a viable environment attractive for investments.
Stating their desire
for the continuation of Turkey’s European Union membership process, Hollande
went on to say, “You can be sure that France will not hold back her support for
you,” and said that there can be no political power without economic power and
that the time to open a new page for the two countries.
- Other speakers and seminars
Prior to and at the
same time as the closing of the Turkish – French Business Forum, three other
seminars were held on urban development, infrastructure and healthcare sector
projects; industry cooperation and energy projects as well as agriculture and food
products fields.
Also addressing
attendees were Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekçi during the urban development,
infrastructure and healthcare sector projects seminar; the French Foreign
Affairs Minister Nicole Bricq during the Turkish – French Business Forum; the
Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yıldız, the French Industry and
Development Minister Arnaud Montebourg and the French Environment, Sustainable
Development and Energy Minister Philippe Martin during the industry cooperation
and energy projects seminar; the French Agriculture, Food and Livestock
Minister Stephane Le Foll and Food, Agriculture and Livestock Ministry
Undersecretary Vedat Mirmahmutoğulları during the Food and Agriculture Panel.
- Turkish – French Business Forum cooperation agreements
signed
During the Turkish –
French Business Forum,agreements between Eutelsat Communications and Türksat as
well as Koç University and the French pharmaceutical company Sanofi were
signed.
The agreements,
witnessed by both Presidents and the businessmen present, were viewed as the
first steps in achieving the set goal of 20 billion Euro bilateral trade volume
between the two countries.