15.05.2014 İstanbul
Speaking at the 12th Industry Congress organized by the İstanbul Chamber of Industry (İSO), TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “While the medium tech products are on the increase in our industrial goods exports, the ratio of advanced tech goods are unable to make any headway,” stating that it is clear that the industry is in need of structural transformation.
The 12th Industry Congress, held by İSO in order to
contribute to the development of the production industry’s competitive power,
was held at the İstanbul Lütfi Kırdar International Congress and Exposition
Hall, attended by TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and İstanbul Governor
Hüseyin Avni Mutlu.
TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said in his speech at the
Congress, “If we aim to make Turkey into a global giant, we must address the
questions of our industrialists quickly and move on to production high tech
goods.”
Explaining that they are faced with different problems each day, Hisarcıklıoğlu
said that they are fighting to keep standing. Doing this, they miss much of
what is happening throughout the world, emphasized Hisarcıklıoğlu and said,
“There is a favorite quote of mine by Henry Ford: ‘If I had asked people what
they wanted they would have said faster horses.’ That is why I think an
assessment of the global situation is appropriate at this, our Industry
Congress.”
- Developments in the global
economy
TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the most significant
development recently is the fact that FED has decreased liquidity. Stating that
the FED used to put out approximately 1 trillion USD in liquidity annually,
Hisarcıklıoğlu said that this period was over.
Another important point is that the source of prosperity is industry.
Production means industry; without industry there can be no advances made in
regards to employment, income and prosperity.
Since 1990, mid-level tech has taken over the share of products
populated by low-tech. Now, a new challenge lies before us.
While the medium tech products are on the increase in our industrial
goods exports, the ratio of advanced tech goods is unable to make any headway.
It is clear that the industry is in need of structural transformation.
If we aim to make Turkey into a global giant, we must address the
questions of our industrialists quickly and move on to the production of high
tech goods.
- We are unable to fully realize
partnership culture
Stating that we should first look to ourselves for issues in need of
mending, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “I travel everywhere throughout Turkey. One thing
I encounter everywhere is very saddening. We have been unable to fully realize
a culture of partnership. Partnership brings institutionalization. If we are
unable to achieve a more institutional structure in our establishments, they
will not last through the next generation.
Emphasizing the need to be open to change and new ideas, Hisarcıklıoğlu
pointed to the importance of the Industry Strategy Document and various reports
on certain sectors for their guiding qualities.
Hisarcıklıoğlu requested that the main priority of the government in
preparing industry strategy should be structural transformation and a process
of reform.
Stating that, as TOBB, they are ready to make the necessary
contributions to this end and lay out an industrial map of Turkey,
Hisarcıklıoğlu went on to stress the importance of R&D as well as the
establishment of industry – university partnership in order to form a
reciprocal cycle for research, development and the actualization of said
research.
Emphasizing the importance of trust in business life, TOBB President
Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “If there is no trust, the cost of this would be
prohibitively high for the private sector. According to Francis Fukuyama,
economic prosperity is proportional to the feeling of trust in society.
In order to reinforce feelings of trust in society, there must be an end
to conflict in our country, dialogue between parties must exist; there must be
arbitration, not polarization. Trust among people is Justas necessary for a
healthy economy as for a stable democracy.”
- Other speakers
İSO President Erdal Bahçıvan expressed the grief with which they have
learned of the disaster in Soma. Stating that they do not hold so narrow an
view as to expect only solutions for the industry and the industrialist,
Bahçıvan expressed their desire to be a part of the solution.
Exchange İstanbul President İbrahim Turan began his speech by extending
his condolences for the disaster in Soma, emphasizing that real sector is and
has always been the driving force of the economy. He went on to speak in
regards to Exchange İstanbul’s role as a part of the 2023 goals.
İSO President Zeynep Bodur Okyay also expressed concern for the events
in Soma. Touching on the subject of women’s involvement in the workforce as
well as the need for a comprehensive game-plan for Turkey during this period in
which the global economy’s deck is being reshuffled.