02.08.2016 Ankara
TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu along with the representatives of international corporations active in Turkey, YASED Chairman Ahmet Erdem, Türk-İş Chairman Ergün Atalay, Hak-iş Chairman Mahmut Arslan and the representatives of TİSK and TZOB attended the High Level Talks with International Investors under the auspices of the President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, at the Presidential Palace.
In his address, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that
this visit represents a total net stock investment of over 150 billion USD to
date. Hisarcıklıoğlu also read out the joint proclamation prepared at the
previous meeting in TOBB in the presence of President Erdoğan during the
reception. The proclamation stated, “We who have invested in Turkey are hard at
work. We are continuing to produce, export, invest and create jobs. Because we
know that those who invest in the future of Turkey will profit. We who invested
in the future of Turkey yesterday have profited today; and those who invest in
Turkey today will profit tomorrow.”
The joint proclamation read by Hisarcıklıoğlu is as follows:
“Turkey has repulsed an attempt on democracy and the rule of law on the
night of Friday, 15th July. One thing is very clear: Turkey does not
accept the legitimacy of any authority which is not derived from the ballot
box, from the people; Turkey does not accept anything but democracy for its
future.
Our democracy and the democratic institutions of Turkey have proved that
they have matured to a point which is beyond yielding to brute force. Those who
challenged the democratic and political gains of our country in the last 93
years have failed. Our duty now is to ensure that daily life returns to normal
as soon as possible and to transform Turkey into a country which looks to the
future with excitement and anticipation. We will do our part to this end.
As the business community we are determined to return to our economy
agenda and to continue on our way. In this regard, we have come together as TOBB,
YASED, Türk-İş, Hak-İş, TİSK, TZOB and the international corporations which
have invested into the future of Turkey to assess the situation.
We’ve renewed our determination in regards to reforms to be undertaken
in line with Turkey’s strong growth vision. The same leadership of the
President of the Republic of Turkey seen on the 15th of July against
the heinous coup attempt is necessary to achieve the leap forward in reforms
and economy.
The understanding between parties which formed following the coup
attempt in regards to democracy and the rule of law is of a quality which will
only support Turkey’s future global aspirations.
It is important to transfer this understanding to the formation of a new
constitution which will strengthen the democracy and rule of law and ensure
judicial independence. Additionally, the EU accession process will facilitate
this institutional transformation, strengthening Turkey’s global position.
The state of emergency is a necessary and limited measure which is
needed to normalize daily life in the shortest time possible. To this end we
are eagerly waiting for the implementation of the Improvement of the Investment
Environment Legislation which is necessary for the financial leap of Turkey’s
economy.
The Improvement of the Investment Environment Legislation, Intellectual
Property Legislation Bill, the Production Reform Package and
Investment-Exporting Incentives Reform Packages which have been in preparation,
play an important role in the eyes of the international investors in regards to
Turkey’s global aspirations.
Especially strengthening this reform package with incentives aimed at
international investors, taking affirmative action in regards to taxation for
high tech investments will enable Turkey to draw in investments in the future.
It is necessary to ensure businesses that their day to day activities
will not be affected by these tumultuous times; it is also necessary that the
reform process be conducted transparently while consulting with the private
sector and forming an effective public-private sector cooperation mechanism to
this end. These high level talks are a precursor for just such a cooperation
and are therefore of the utmost importance.
We who have invested in Turkey are hard at work. We are continuing to
produce, export, invest and create jobs. Because we know that those who invest
in the future of Turkey will profit.
We who invested in the future of Turkey yesterday have profited today;
and those who invest in Turkey today will profit tomorrow.”