02.11.2018 Antalya
D-8 Chamber of Commerce and Industry (D-8 TSO) General Assembly and D-8 TSO Business Forum took place in Belek, Antalya, hosted by D-8 Chamber of Commerce and Industry Term Chairman and TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu. Stating that they must increase trade, Hisarcıklıoğlu stressed that trade strengthens and supports peace.
Hisarcıklıoğlu,
in his speech at the opening of the D-8 CCI Business Forum held after the D-8
CCI General Assembly, stated that Antalya is the capital of tourism in Turkey
and that 14 million tourists are expected to visit it this year. Hisarcıklıoğlu
reminded that the foundation was created 21 years ago with Necmettin Erbakan's
vision. Stating that D-8 adopted peace rather than conflict; dialogue rather
than confrontation; justice, democracy and equality as principles,
Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We have a unique geography as D-8 member countries. We
have rich natural resources, a young and dynamic population. The trade volume
between our countries, which was 14bn USD when D-8 was established in ‘97 has today
reached around 100bn USD. This is good but not enough. Our per capita income,
which was around 1,800 USD, has now reached 4,500 USD. In total, we have an economy
of 3.7 trillion USD.”
- Trade strengthens peace
Speaking
about the fact that they have not been able to use their full potential despite
the fact that they have business relations in many sectors, D-8 Chamber of
Commerce and Industry Term Chairman and TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu
emphasized that trade will support and strengthen peace. Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that those who trader would not consider war and the best example of this is the
EU project.
Pointing
out that half of the world's least developing 48 countries are Islamic
countries, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that they had to change this. D-8 Chamber of
Commerce and Industry Term Chairman and TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said,
“As D-8 countries, we can increase our trade of 100 billion USD to 5 times over.
Remember that people's well-being depends on economies being strong. We have
responsibilities as representatives of the private sector. It's not enough to just
point out the problems that we have. We must share our solution proposals with our
governments. There is a study by TEPAV to develop economic activities among D-8
countries. Mr. Güven will provide in depth information about this subject.”
- D-8 Secretary General Dato’ Ku
Jaafar Ku Shaari
D-8
General Secretary Dato’ Ku Jaafar Ku Shaari emphasized the importance of
transforming the concrete results of these meetings into projects and reminded
that the private sector is the engine of economic growth. “D-8 will be an economic
power in the near future.”
D-8
Secretary General Dato’ Ku Jaafar Ku Shaari, stating that they want to increase
trade and increase cooperation, pointed out that financial mechanisms are very
important and provided information about various projects.