09.12.2016 Ankara
TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they, as business circles, want to strengthen the economy aspect, in addition to political and military aspects, of Turkey and US relations by trading and investing more; that the strength of Turkey-US relations is as important for Europe and the Middle East as it is for Turkey and the US.
Attending the meeting
which took place at TOBB to contribute to the development of financial and
trade relations between the two countries were Minister of Economy Nihat
Zeybekci, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarciklioglu, Executive Director of the
United States - Turkey Business Council Jennifer Miel, US Deputy Ambassador to Ankara
Philip Kosnett and senior representatives of US companies based in Turkey.
TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu
spoke at the meeting, drawing attention to the memorandum of understanding signed
between TOBB and the US Chamber of Commerce in 2012, “We have made great
progress in terms of our joint activities and contribution to Turkey-US
relations during this time. As a part of TOBB-US Chamber of Commerce
cooperation, we have had the opportunity to host our Prime Minister, Prime
Minister Deputies, Economy Minister and many of our Ministers and bring them to
meet with our business circles. Today, we bring together our Economy Minister
with US companies operating in Turkey. The Minister will address this business
meeting in regards to the investment environment in Turkey, the possibilities
provided to investors and the predictions of our government for 2017.”
Stating that Turkey
has carried out significant work in the fields of increasing foreign trade,
attracting more international investment and promotion under Economy Minister
Zeybekci’s leadership, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Especially during this period, we
need to explain Turkey’s position much more clearly. The Minister initiated
work on this subject. TOBB has been participating in and contributing to this endeavor
since its beginning. I would also like to thank the Minister for his efforts to
uncover new opportunities for the business community and Turkey's promotion
abroad.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that TOBB and the US Chamber of Commerce have cooperated to carry out high
level delegation visits and to spread out their activities to beyond just
Ankara and Istanbul in Turkey.
Hisarcıklıoğlu reported
that they’ve signed the memorandum of understanding to extend their cooperation
between TOBB and the US Chamber of Commerce for another year and said, “We will
continue our work in 2017. We will also go to new states and cities this year
and promote investment opportunities in Turkey. Likewise, we will organize an
event to convey investment opportunities in the US to the companies of our
country.
We have added
promising sectors to the scope of our work. We have spread to fields such as
biotechnology, tourism, the pharmaceuticals industry, health, communication
technologies and venture capital. We are also work-ing on the Trans-Atlantic
Trade and Investment Agreement between the US and the EU. We put great
importance to Turkey's commitment to this agreement or to the signing of a free
trade agreement between Turkey and the United States. In this context, the
joint report we organized was presented to the public in September last year.
We know that there
are serious cooperation opportunities in the third countries, especially in
contracting. For this reason, the US Chamber of Commerce opened a regional
office at our Union Headquarters in Istanbul. We work together in the Middle
East through the Middle East Trade Center Project. We have re-addressed the
same issue under this year's collaboration. We are doing all of this in the
conviction of the importance of Turkey-US relations. Our relations are very robust
and very important.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
emphasized that, as business communities, want to strengthen the economy
aspect, in addition to political and military aspects, of Turkey and US
relations by trading and investing more. Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that “The strength
of Turkey-US relations is as important for Europe and the Middle East as it is
for Turkey and the US. TOBB and the US Chamber of Commerce will continue to
work with this vision. We strive to contribute to solutions to problems faced
by our companies in their activities in Turkey or, conversely, in their
activities in the USA.”
- Minister Zeybekci
Economy Minister
Nihat Zeybekci also pointed to Turkey-US relations.
Pointing to the
importance of relations between the two countries, Zeybekci said, “The more
elevated economic and strategic relations between the United States and Turkey
are, the stronger political and diplomatic relations will be.
We know very well the
potential of the US economy. That is why we have assigned our trade relations
with the American economy a strategic priority as the Ministry. This is how
it’s been in 2016; this is how it will be until 2019.”
Noting that
commercial relations between the two countries are not at the desired level
yet, Zeybekci said, “As of 2002, Turkey has received 174 billion USD of foreign
direct investment, of which the USA’s share is only 8%, second behind
Netherlands.”
- “Speculative wave will not be able to overcome economic
measures”
Minister Zeybekci
pointed out that Turkey's macroeconomic bases are intact and said, “There is a
wall of macroeconomic measures to break the speculative wave being attempted to
be created in Turkey.”
Zeybekci also emphasized
that Turkey will follow a proactive roadmap for 2017.
- US Deputy Ambassador Kosnett
“US institutions
continue to support investments in Turkey,” said US Deputy Ambassador to Ankara
Philip Kosnett, reporting that over 60 US-based companies use Turkey as a regional
center to reach wider markets.
Stating that there
are over 1,400 companies in Turkey, Kosnett said, “These provide employment to
over 60,000 people, paying over 7 billion TRY each year in taxes. In the last
10 years, US-Turkish trade has increased significantly. US institutions
continue to support investments in Turkey.”
Kosnett stated that
US companies have benefited from Turkey’s economic center role in the Middle
East and Central Asia, particularly in regards to investments in the health,
construction, infrastructure and energy sectors.