14.09.2018 Berlin / Germany
Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Turkey and Germany are two major economic powers in Europe and said, “Our friendship and our partnership with Germany has deep roots. Those who invest in Turkey today will be tomorrow's winners. Continue to trust in Turkey.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu, in his speech at the Turkey-Germany Economic Dialogue
meeting held in the German capital, Berlin, stated modernization of the Customs
Union would give a new impetus to Turkish-German economic relations.
Stating that protectionism and populism are the biggest obstacles to the
business world, Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed to the European Union (EU) as the best
example of solidarity established after WWII. Stating that it showed solidarity
of German businessmen in continuing to invest in Turkey following the July 15th
coup attempt Hisarcıklıoğlu went on:
“Germany is Turkey's most important trade partner. The number one
trading partner. Our trade volume is about 35 billion euros. At the same time
Germany is the most important investor to Turkey. Currently, 7,110 German
companies are operating in Turkey. The amount of foreign direct investment from
Germany to Turkey in 2002-2017 reached 8 billion euros. during the same period,
direct investment of around 2 billion euros was made from Turkey to Germany.
The 3.5 million Turkish citizens living in Germany, most of whom are
German citizens, serve as bridges between our countries. We are proud of their
integration into German society and the German economy. You can see the
greatest feature of Turkish people in these 3.5 million people. Today, the
descendants of those who arrived as workers are entrepreneurs; they run workplaces
and establishes production facilities. This is great success. It increases
Germany's production, employment and contributes to its economic growth. Around
80,000 Turkish-born German entrepreneurs operate in 50 different sectors in
Germany. As of 2017, Turkish entrepreneurs have achieved a turnover of
approximately 52 billion euros. They conduct business in Germany, contributing
to the German economy. At the same time, it provides over 500,000 jobs.”
- “Continue to rely on Turkey”
Stating that during this period, the integration of Turkey in Europe is
important for all of Europe and especially Germany, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Let
me give one striking example of this: Today, the EU imports most of its automobiles
from Turkey. Japan is second, Korea third, and the USA fifth. On the other hand,
it exports the most to US and China followed by Turkey, ranked third. The economies
of the two countries are intertwined. If we work together we will win together.
So we really are each other's partner; we should support each other.”
Stating that modernization of the Customs Union would give a new impetus
to Turkish-German economic relations, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Those who trusted
in Turkey and invested, won. Don’t miss this opportunity. I invite German
businessmen to invest in Turkey. Turkey and Germany are two major economic
powers in Europe. Our friendship and our partnership with Germany has deep
roots. Those who invest in Turkey today will be tomorrow's winners. Continue to
trust in Turkey.
- Protectionism is concerning
German Industry and Commerce Association (DIHK) President Eric
Schweitzer also noting the importance of events such as the Turkey-Germany
Economic Dialogue, “Today, the German economy is open to you as well as our
hearts.”
Schweitzer stressed that what is important for business people is
prosperity, stability and peace, with trust in each other as the most important
factor among them.
Schweitzer stated that, in the age of globalization and digitalization,
most economies are oriented towards protectionism, which is concerning to them.
- “German businesspeople have not
lost their interest in Turkey”
Turkey's ambassador to Berlin, Ali Kemal Aydin pointed to the importance
of economic dialogue meetings, “Turks and Germans need to be involved in more
conversation and dialogue, not just in the economic field. We need empathy and
solidarity. Our relationships have gone through difficult tests in the last few
years. Normalization process will gain more momentum with mutual visits. We are
entering a new and intense period in the economic field.
Pointing out that German businesspeople have not lost their interest in
Turkey despite difficult times, Aydın emphasized the need to raise awareness in
Germany in regards to Turkey's business and investment potential.
- Erdoğan and Albayrak will visit
Hisarcıklıoğlu and the delegation of businesspeople led by him has been
conducting meetings in Berlin. sessions held with the participation Turkey and
Germany's leading companies and public institutions assessed problems
encountered in investment and shared their proposals for solutions.
TOBB’s contacts in Germany will be followed by visits by the President
of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak.
It is expected that Minister Albayrak and then President Erdoğan will visit Germany
to discuss matters of politics, security, diplomacy and economy as well as sign
various agreements.