19.11.2015 Paris / France
TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu has been awarded the highest medal of merit from France, the Legion d’Honneur. Hisarcıklıoğlu expressed his pride receiving the decoration from the Republic of France.
Awarded first by the French Emperor, Napoleon, in 1804, the decoration
has been awarded to Hisarcıklıoğlu for his contributions to relations between
Turkey and France. First awarded in Turkey to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the
decoration has also been awarded to prominent business leaders prior.
Hisarcıklıoğlu received the decoration for his contributions to
relations between Turkey and France. Hisarcıklıoğlu was recommended to receive
the decoration by the Union of French Chambers of Commerce and Industry Chair
André Marcon for his contributions to economic relations between Turkey and
France to the French President François Hollande who approved it.
Speaking at the award ceremony, Hisarcıklıoğlu condemned the terror
attack which targeted France. Expressing solidarity for the people of France,
Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Our people who are fighting terrorism understand all too
well France’s anxiety. Terror targets freedom, equality, brotherhood and human
honor. Terror has no religion and no nationality. I hope that there will be an
end to such suffering.”
Expressing his honor in receiving this decoration from the Republic of
France, President Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “I am an entrepreneur, an industrialist.
I’ve believed in the importance of Turkish-French economic and social
relations. Our friendship stretches back 700 years. At the hardest of times, we
worked in cooperation with our French friends. Turkish – French relations are
important for EU, Middle East and world peace. With this important decoration
our responsibilities in strengthening Turkish – French relations have become
even more significant.”
- New trade thrust to France
Drawing attention to the need to increase trade between the two
countries, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We have a bilateral trade volume of 15 billion
USD. This figure reflects neither the economic power of France, nor that of
Turkey. We must bring new momentum to trade. Investments of French companies in
Turkey are around 10%. We support foreign investment from more French
companies. We would like to see more French investment into Turkey, especially
in the fields of energy and transportation. France should receive more
investment from Turkey as well.”
- “Customs union will increase
trade”
TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that public acquisitions are also
on the agenda in addition industrial as a part of the Customs Union, and said,
“A modernized Customs Union will have increased transaction volume. France is
the architect of the EU. Turkey and Europe need France’s support. France should
contribute to the development of relations via the EU accession process.
France’s support in a vision of EU which includes Turkey is necessary.”
- Call for investment in 5 fields
by France
French Foreign Trade Minister Matthias Fekl stated that both countries
need to take advantage of existing opportunities and that modernizing the
Customs Union would elevate bilateral trading volume. Stating that they are
very pleased with France companies investing in Turkey, Fekl said, “They want
to contribute to the development of your country as well as contributing to
your achievement of the 2023 goals in the fields of energy, infrastructure,
railways and finance. It is also important that Turkish companies become active
in France. As the Minister of Foreign Trade, I think we can expand our
relations in 5 fields. Turkish and French companies should focus on this
potential. We want to establish the Turkish-French Chamber of Commerce. We also
want to engender a strong and close cooperation between the two chambers under
France, bringing together French people interested in Turkey and Turks
interested in France.”