26.09.2014 New York / USA
Speaking at a meeting held in New York by TOBB, US Chamber of Commerce and Investment Promotion Agency with the attendance of the President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they wish to increase trade with the USA. Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “The inclusion of Turkey in the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Agreement, or an FTA between Turkey and the USA would be concrete steps in increasing trade between the two countries.” Coca-Cola Board Chairman and CEO Muhtar Kent also urged US CEOs to invest in Turkey.
A meeting was held in New York by TOBB, US Chamber of Commerce and
Investment Promotion Agency with the attendances of the President of the
Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Coca-Cola Board Chairman and CEO
Muhtar Kent as well as many prominent US companies’ CEOs.
In his speech, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu expressed their
desire to see the trade between the two countries increase. “We invite you to trade
more with and to invest in Turkey,” said Hisarcıklıoğlu and stated that a great
opportunity to cooperate in view of Turkey’s 2023 vision.
Hisarcıklıoğlu drew attention to the fact that Turkey plans to grow its economy
by 2.5 times in the next 10 years and said, “We want to shift to high tech
goods in production. There are great opportunities for working together, for
cooperating.” The TOBB President said, “At the same time there’s tremendous
opportunity to work together in third country, chiefly in our region. We are
prepared to expand our areas of cooperation and partnership.”
- Desire for more investment and
trade
Stating that, as the business community, they think that the financial
aspect of Turkish – American relations need to rise to a new level,
Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized the need for more investment and trade. As TOBB and
the US Chamber of Commerce their efforts have been to this end since 2012,
reported TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and went on to stated that the
inclusion of Turkey in the Trans-Atlantic Trade and Investment Agreement, or an
FTA between Turkey and the USA would be concrete steps in increasing trade
between the two countries. Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We do not want to even
consider the possibility of Turkey being excluded from an economic integration
which could fundamentally effect the global economy.”
- “Businessmen are the mortar
between countries”
Thanking President Erdoğan for honoring the meeting and his close
support for the financial aspect of Turkish – American relations,
Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We, the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of
Turkey, have been working diligently for the improvement of the financial
aspect of Turkish – American relations. We know that businessmen and their
financial activities are the mortar of Turkish – American relations.
The strong political will and concrete efforts of President Erdoğan and
President Obama, of both our governments, gives us hope and courage.
Turkey’s rapidly growing economy, qualified human resources and
geographical conditions make it a very attractive country for investing in. We
invite you to trade more and invest more in Turkey.”
- Muhtar Kent’s call to invest in
Turkey
Giving a brief speech prior to introducing President Erdoğan, Coca-Cola
Board Chairman and CEO Muhtar Kent said, “We’ve all witnessed the leadership of
President Erdoğan in laying the foundations of the country’s economic growth
through many reforms. Turkey now boasts of one of the most powerful economies
of the world. Innovative entrepreneurs are carrying the country through to many
fields other than the ones in which it had already been strong, such as
textiles and clothing. Among them are tech, engineering, construction,
agriculture, consumer goods and retail.
I would suggest my American friends and colleagues to seriously consider
Turkey and potential Turkish partners and suppliers. Your investments will not
only enable you to address the Turkish market but also have it act as a gateway
to the market of the region – a decision which I am sure you will not regret.”