12.07.2017 Ankara
The International Consultative Meeting with Investors organized by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) and the International Investors Association (YASED) was hosted by TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu at TOBB Twin Towers and attended by the President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
TOBB President M. Rifat
Hisarcıklıoğlu told President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, “With the historic support
you provided, employment increase in 6 months reached a record 1.2 million,
which is the result of confidence in the country and the economy.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that
participating investors have invested more than 150 billion dollars in Turkey
and emphasized that investors provide production, employment and exports.
Recalling the meeting held
on August 2nd last year, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that they will not
forget that Turkey has lived through in the last 1.5 years.
“The so-called unaffiliated terrorist
organizations attacked at the same time. Moreover, we have experienced a
vicious coup attempt by FETO, the likes of which world history has not seen. All
this in just the last year; if any other country in the world lived, could not stand
straight.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu expressed
their profound gratitude as Turkey's private sector for President Erdoğan’s firm
stance and leadership in the elimination of both the July 15th treacherous
coup attempt and the fight against the terrorist organization. He stated that
the TOBB community was the first occupational organizations that took the first
action against the coup attempt for Turkey's independence.
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that
they had acted immediately when they saw the coup declaration and went on:
“At 00.22, we said, ‘We do
not recognize any will except the will of the people and democracy.’ This day
is the day for democracy. Afterwards, we took action against the coup together
with all our business in 81 provinces and 160 counties. We brought together the
next day all of the private sector professional organizations and demonstrated
our common stance against the coup. Chambers and exchanges also supported democracy
watches in an active way. Launched under your patronage, we have provided the
most contribution to the July 15th Martyrs Solidarity Campaign as the
Turkish business world. We have been vocal for the perception that we want to
be formed of our country abroad.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out
that throughout this process, the illegal, immoral, inhumane coup attempt and
the Turkish people's ownership of democracy and national will were observed
clearly and that they’ve related their counterparts in 6 continents, 98
countries and 25 global business associations.
“In those days it was our
goal to re-establish and raise the confidence of investors. You provided leadership
then, too. You met with the 300 largest international companies who fill this
room today. Listening to what happened directly from you, restored confidence. We
have worked with our Prime Minister and our ministers to heal the business and
investment environment; and with your support, these changes, many of which are
revolutionary, have come to pass and we have regained the trust of investors
and markets.
- 1.2 million jobs in 6 months
Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out
that one of the best growth performances in the world was reached in the first
quarter of the year and reminded them that they held the TOBB Turkish Economic
Forum in February under the auspices of President Erdoğan.
Stating that President Erdoğan
has been instrumental in the actualization of historic employment incentives,
Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “With the support we receive from you, we launched an
employment mobilization throughout Turkey. We promoted and followed up on it nationwide.
We said we would do it and we did it despite what some so-called economists
might have said. With the historic support you provided, employment increase in
6 months reached a record 1.2 million, which is the result of confidence in the
country and the economy.”
The meeting was also
attended by Prime Minister Nurettin Canikli, Minister of Economy Nihat
Zeybekci, Minister of Science, Industry and Technology Faruk Özlü, Minister of
Youth and Sports Akif Çağatay Kılıç, Minister of Family and Social Policy Fatma
Betül Sayan Kaya.
- President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan
Participating in the
International Investors Consultation Meeting held at TOBB, President Erdoğan
said in his speech, “Please don’t compare Turkey with the countries surrounding
her. Turkey is a very different and powerful country at this point. With thousands
of years of state tradition, we are a different country with our ambitious
goals for the future and our thousand-year presence in the region.
We met with you for the
first time approximately two weeks after the dark coup attempt of July 15th,
2016, on the 2nd of August. I shared first details of the coup in
this meeting, followed by developments in the economy in spite the coup
attempt, that we have a future ahead of us.” Erdoğan reported that an 8.5%
growth was observed in 2013 despite Gezi Protests and FETO’s 17-25 December
attack.
Erdoğan reported that exports
in the first six months of the year are at 8.2% and maintaining their upward
trend, and that unemployment, in parallel with the improvement in the economy
and thanks to the mobilization started with TOBB, is heading towards single
digit figures.
- “Please do not compare Turkey with the countries surrounding
her”
Erdoğan stated that TOBB and
YASED are very interested in investors and that he is making an effort to meet
with representatives of companies that have investments in Turkey in their
foreign travels.
Underlining that Turkey
aiming to be one of the top 10 economies of the world, which constitutes the
most important and assertive dimension of the country's 2023 targets, Erdoğan
said to the international investor:
“I know the developments in
our country lead to a variety of questions in the minds of international
investors. However, take into account the following: Turkey, despite being at
the world's most serious conflict zone never allowed its stability and
confidence to be jeopardized. This is Turkey's greatest strength.
Please don’t compare Turkey
with the countries surrounding her. Turkey is a very different and powerful
country at this point. With thousands of years of state tradition, we are a
different country with our ambitious goals for the future and our thousand-year
presence in the region.
- Joint proclamation
A joint proclamation was made
by TOBB and YASED after the meeting. It read:
“We once again condemn the
treacherous coup attempt on this anniversary of July 15th against Turkey's
stability, the economy and the rule of law, and we hope that similar initiatives
will never be repeated. We are against any kind of intervention to remove the
rule of law and the constitutional order.
So far, the measures taken
rapidly by our government, legal-administrative regulations and incentives put
into practice, ensuring healthy functioning of the business and investment
environment by limiting the negative impact caused by the coup attempt has
contributed significantly to the economy.
In line with the development
of our country, in attaining our deserved position in the global competitive
environment and the continuation of value-added sustainable investments, the
presence of democracy, the rule of law, foreseeable legal and managerial
arrangements, and the existence of a transparent and competitive free market economy
is fundamental.
Under the leadership of
President Mr. Erdoğan, the determination of your government and the distance
covered in this direction will further increase the confidence of international
direct investors in Turkey.
In the upcoming period, our
targeted economic and structural reform should be focused more on our agenda,
to increase our country's global competitive power and to be positioned as an
investment attraction center. We, too, are ready to fulfill any duty that falls
upon us in this direction.
As international investors,
we believe in the future and potential of Turkey and continue to demonstrate
this belief by preserving our long-term investment perspective. We take
responsibility as ‘ambassadors’ in promoting the investment environment in
Turkey abroad and in strengthening our perception.
We will continue to work
closely with all parties as the business community, with the aim of increasing
the interest of investors in the Turkish economy, increasing the efficiency of
existing investments and thus boosting the prosperity of our country.
Our basic expectation in
this process is further strengthening of all institutions of the democratic
state with rule of law, our country is the continuation of increasing
integration with the developed world sharing global values without interruption
of reforms to improve the development process and the investment environment as
it was until today.
Improving the investment climate is a continuous
objective. The continuation of structural reforms, ensuring a sustainable
improvement in our investment and business conditions will play an important
role when we step forward internationally.
In this frame;
• Positioning our country as a regional center,
• Expansion of financing possibilities with the
increase of the saving rate,
• The integration of SMEs into the global value chain,
• Prioritizing importance to training activities aimed
at raising human resources for qualification,
• Developing a comprehensive employment strategy
required by a production-oriented economic policy,
• Accelerating digital transformation in the industry,
• Facilitation of business processes and reduction of
bureaucracy,
• Reducing the high tax rates that adversely affect
the efficiency and competitive power of the tax legislation by harmonizing with
the international legislation and constantly updating the incentive system in
line with the needs of the day,
• Establishing a production capacity that produces and
exports high value-added competitive products in our country, targeting a
global market in this direction,
• The imposition of the import regime and safeguarding
measures in this respect and the implementation of such practices in a way which
will not cause unfair competition and not adversely affect the predictability
of the business / investment environment will international competition will
take us one step ahead.
It is of great importance to update the Customs Union
Agreement in line with today's needs in the short term in the direction of
Turkey's EU membership perspective. The reorganization of the Customs Union to
allow Turkey to sign free trade agreements with third parties outside the EU
will contribute to expanding our export markets.
We also think that Turkey's 'International Investment
Strategic Plan’ will be useful for improving the investment environment. In
this regard, we are ready to fulfill our duty as international direct
investors.”