31.03.2015 Ankara
TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu gave his assessment of the Turkish economy at the consultation and review meeting held by the ASO 1st Organized Industry Zone administration.
“2015 will be year of starts
and stops for us in general,” said Hisarcıklıoğlu and went on, “Looking at
Turkey’s growth figures, while we leaped forward following the 2008 global
crisis, we hit the brakes. As of the end of 2014, we’ve achieved 2.9% growth.
Our industry has grown by 3.1% during this period. I would like to congratulate
all the industrialists in the Sincan OIZ. The growth rate of the Sincan OIZ is
over double that of Turkey. Sincan OIZ has grown by 7%.”
Reporting that there are no expectations for a quick recovery in the
first quarter of 2015, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that this is due to weakening export
markets and the adverse effects of the fluctuations in exchange rates have had
on the domestic market.
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that employment is one of the most important
indicators for industrialists, reporting that the Turkish business world has
created 1.3 million new jobs in 2014, 1.1 million of them in the real sector
and stated that this is a source of great pride for them.
Pointing out that 4.194 million people found jobs between 2008 and 2014
in Turkey, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that 5.898 million people lost their jobs in
Europe during the same period.
- Risks and opportunities
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that risks for Turkey in 2015 would be the exchange
rate decisions made by the Fed, turmoil in the surrounding region and the
election process while the expected monetary expansion in Europe, drop in oil
prices and the structural transformation programs which have been announced
would present Turkey with opportunities.
- “There will be two types of
cheques on the market”
Reporting that QR coded cheques will be entering circulation following
their meeting with Deputy PM Ali Babacan, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that a new
transaction instrument would become available.
By scanning the QR code of the cheque, one would have access to
information regarding the transaction history of the person who gave you the
cheque. This would include whether the owner has unpaid debts or has given out
bounced cheques in the past, Hisarcıklıoğlu went on, “You would have the option
of asking for a regular or QR code cheque. With QR coded cheques you would have
additional information and not be working on hunches.”