17.04.2015 Washington / USA
In the US for B20 Plenary Meetings, TOBB President and B20 Turkey Chair M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Turkey’s G20 and B20 Chairmanship is being met with admiration throughout the world. Hisarcıklıoğlu said that those who expressed doubt in Turkey at its election as Chair had changed to bafflement and surprise in just three and a half months, “We are revolutionizing B20.”
Turkey’s performance as the Business 20 Chair (B20), the business arm of
the G20 which represents the 20 countries which make up 80% of the world’s
trade volume, is being met with admiration by the global business community.
The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President M.
Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu is chairing the B20, the meetings of which have been
attended by 350 people from all over the globe. The B20 Committee was comprised
of 200, now increased to 600.
- 350 business leaders meet in
Washington D.C.
TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We’ve put in motion one of the
largest meetings Turkey has held in Washington D.C. We’ve brought together 350
business leaders from all around the world. Unfortunately Turkey has been much
maligned in the last couple of years. The same held true when we took on the
G20 chair: They stated that, ‘Turkey will fail in this.’ We, however, have been
performing greatly until now. Our term is being called the best in regards to
B20 activity.” Stressing the significant contributions of Deputy Prime Minister
Ali Babacan in this achievement, the TOBB President said, “He is currently the
most experienced politician in regards to the G20. He has been the most active
and knowledgeable politician in these matters since 2003.”
- Two important issues
Stating that efforts in Washington D.C. are resulting in important
developments for Turkey, the TOBB President said, “Economic relations between
Turkey and the US are very important and there are two important issues
effecting these relations. One is the Armenian issue. Will it be passed in the
Senate or House of Representatives? The other issue is the TTIP and the
inclusion of Turkey. We are seeing positive developments in regards to both.
We’ve met with the Republican Representative for North Carolina,
Virginia Fox, regarding the Armenian bill which the House of Representatives
Speaker John Boehner has assured her will never pass so long as he holds
office. Their support has been ensured through the efforts of Yalçın Ayaslı, a
Turkish businessman, for which we thank him heartily.”
- Joint report for TTIP
“We’ve prepared a report with the US Chamber of Commerce on ‘Why Turkey
Should Be Included in TTIP’, the fact that business people in the US share our
point of view is a very positive step in the right direction.
- Zeytinoğlu as Anti-corruption
Task Force Chairman
TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, speaking in regards to the Task
Forces formed as a part of B20, reported that the Chair for the Anti-corruption
Task Force, Murat Ülker has requested to be replaced due to increased workload
following their latest global acquisitions, “Therefore, Ayhan Zeytinoğlu has
taken over. It is imperative to show how to combat corruption on a global
scale.”
- “We are focusing on four big
problems”
Intensifying its work under TOBB, B20 is focusing on the four big
economic problems encountered throughout the world. These are unemployment,
issues facing infrastructure investments, shrinking trade and the proliferation
of protective measures.
- Deputy Prime Minister Ali
Babacan
Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan attended the Think20 meeting,
“Difficulties Facing the Global Economy and the Role of G20”.
Stating that global economic growth is weak and unstable, Babacan
posited that even if the worst is behind us, progress is unsatisfactory at this
point.
Stating that Turkey’s priorities are inclusivity, implementation and
investment, Babacan spoke in regards to the many different workgroups within
G20 such as Think20 (T20), Business20 (B20), Labor20 (L20), Youth20 (Y20) and Civil20
(C20) to which they are in the process of adding the Women20 (W20), in order to
focus on women in business and addressing their issues as well as increasing
their participation and activity in business.