16.01.2018 Doha / Qatar
Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, calling on Qatar business world for uniting strong sides of two countries, said "You have capital, we have entrepreneurial spirit. Let us unite them together with substantial projects. Let us globally establish Turkey-Qatar partnership."
During his speech
at “Turkey-Qatar Business Forum” organised by TOBB and Qatar Chamber of Commerce
and Industry Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out that following FETÖ's coup attempt the
first country give support to Turkey was Qatar.
Saying that
Turkey and Turkish business world standing by Qatar dealing with regional
difficulties Hisarcıklıoğlu continued as follows:
"When
Turkey and Qatar teamed up we had productivity delivered to the economy. 15
years ago, in 1 year only 600 brothers of ours from Qatar were visiting Turkey,
now this figure has gone up to 46 thousand people which multiplied by 77. Our
mutual trade volume was only 15 million USD whereas now multiplying by 60 that
figure reached to 900 million USD. Invested Qatar capital to our country was
only 1 million USD, now it has reached to 1.6 billion USD. In the past there
was no Turkish investments in Qatar whereas now our businessmen started to make
significant investments here. Yet 15 years ago no Turkish firms were mentioned
in Qatar, today our firms undertake projects worth 14 billion USD."
Stating that
relations between two countries should be improved, Hisarcıklıoğlu said "Now
we are telling that let us unite our strong sides. You have capital, we have
entrepreneurial spirit Let us unite them together with substantial projects. Let
us globally establish Turkey-Qatar partnership. Let us make Turkey-Qatar route ‘peace-trade-wealth’
route."
Hisarcıklıoğlu,
expressing that they had a request for such mission, said "Remove the
possible obstacles that might show up in trade, transportation and investment.
Make it easier for us doing business. You remove the obstacles, Allah willing,
we as Turkish and Qatar business world will work out the rest. We shall enable
industrialisation as well as doing business with third countries."
Hisarcıklıoğlu,
reminding that Qatar would be hosting 2002 FİFA World Cup, also noted that such
event would be an opportunity for publicity and tourism of the country.
Hisarcıklıoğlu underlined tha a Muslim country hosting this event for the first
time filled Turkey pride.
Stating that
Turkey also monitoring and supporting Qatar's "2030 National Vision"
Hisarcıklıoğlu said that country had taken step in the right direction for
industrialisation.
-Minister of
Custom and Trade
Minister of
Custom and Trade Bülent Tüfenkci said that they do not consider less Qatar’s
security, peace and stability than Turkey’s security and stability, especially
in recent years the relations between two countries reached to perfect level
thanks to mutual political will.
Reminding
that opposing manner of Turkey right from the start against unfair, unlawful
embargo as well as isolation attempts, Tüfenkci also stated that Qatar and its
public had been stand by and also political, economic and military support was
given to.
Tüfenkci
remarked that even though the trade volume between two countries have dropped
off to 678 million USD in 2016 whereas it was around 784 million USD in 2015
but finally it reached to 788 million USD as of first 11 months in 2017.
Tüfenkci said "I believe foreign trade volume between two countries should
be a lot more than this level. With this matter most of the duty obligation is
on you, businessmen. As the politicians and concerning ministries of two
countries, we are ready to give you each and every support."
Remarking
that Turkey become an important economic factor within its region and world by
its young and qualified workforce as well as large domestic market,
well-disciplined finance sector, developed infrastructure and competitive
private sector, Tüfenkci followed as;
"Turkey
had an average growth rate of 7.1 percent from 2011 to 2015. Our growth figure
in third quarter has actualised as 11.1 percent. Our country, with this
performance pulling ahead of all other countries in the world, become the
fastest growing economy in the third quarter. All investors should be sure of
that Turley is a country where competition rules are effective. The practice of
our laws are effective in convenient manner for the investors. We have a free
market where goods and services can be passed into other hands between persons
and establishments without facing any obstacles."
- "Third
country markets can be penetrated together"
Pointing that
structural reforms are being considered in great deal Tüfenkci also stated that
major development projects including large scale energy infrastructure
investment had been carried out.
Minister Tüfenkci,
pointing out that economies of two countries have mutually complimenting each
other, also said with joint investments in many areas, markets of third
countries can be penetrated.
Stating that
Turkey having second biggest construction sector in the world, Tüfenkci
informed that amongst 250 largest construction firms in the world, there are 42
Turkish companies.
Tüfenkci also
mentioning 15th July coup attempt, gave following reviews: "This
attempt which is more than a vicious conspiracy, was turned out to be a
terrorist act aiming to overthrow democratically elected government, President
and constitutional order in Turkey. Those who prevented the coup were the
Turkish public from various social and political backgrounds as they have
displayed a historic solidarity by standing in front of the tanks and recovered
their democratic rights. United against this relentless conspiracy, all the
political parties and TBMMM members have definitely protected the democracy,
legitimate democratic institutions and Constitution. Hereby, on behalf of my
nation and government, once more I would like thank you all for sincere support
of government and people of Qatar during and after the coup attempt."
Stating that
no peace would be able to maintain within the region when there is massacre and
inhumane treatment in Palestine, while Kudus and Gaza are under blockade,
Tüfenkci underlined that Turkey shall not compromise from its deemed right path
and principles.
Tüfenkci, remarking
that Turkey being determined to take all the necessary steps for improving
relations with Qatar, stated followings:
"I would
like to underline once more that we have the will for to do our share for
providing mutual convenience to especially to our businessmen and promoting
investments. By benefiting from all the opportunities we must diversify our
trade, carry it to high added value grounds and increase it accordingly. In
order to increase our trade with Qatar, primarily we will speed up the works
for making Iraq and Iran transit access easier. We would like to form a
mechanism which shall be making transit access between two countries easier as
well as enabling transit access through Iraq."
- Thanking to
Turkish private sector
Qatar Economy
and Trade Minister Sheik Ahmed bin Casim bin Muhammed Al Sani said that they
support foreign investors and private sector. Stating that they try to benefit
from not only petrol but also other sectors, Al Sani stated that foreign
investors have all the rights that Qatar citizens have.
Al Sani
telling that special brotherhood relation ties Qatar and Turkey together, also
said "I thank both Qatar and Turkish private sector individually. They
showed maximum effort to overcome cruel embargo applied to Qatar. Thanks to the
forum, I believe strategical partnerships shall be able to embark on and our
economic status shall proceed."
Remarking
that Qatar becoming an important country within the region which attracts
investments, Al Sani also stated that Turkey-Qatar Business Forum shall be
producing beneficial results between two countries in short, mid and long term.
-"We
will never forget the way Turkey stood by us during the embargo"
Qatar Chamber
of Commerce and Industry President Sheik Khalifa bin Jassim Al Thani said that
thanks to the contributions by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan relations between
two countries has taken on a significant dimension.
Thani, stating
that the support by Turkey during the embargo towards Qatar was very important
and precious, continued as "We estimate that our fundamental investments
will reach to 93 billion USD. Qatar is getting ready for major investments. We
will like to collaborate with the private sector of nation friendly Turkey. We
will never forget the way Turkey stood by us during the embargo."
Indicating
that Turkey-Qatar Business Forum shall be providing benefit for both countries,
Thani also told that thereby Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry together
with the Chambers in Turkey shall be heading more partnership.
Within the
forum, bilateral business meetings between 400 businessmen from 13 sectors were
carried out.