16.11.2018 Ankara
Speaking at the Turkey-TRNC Chamber of Commerce Forum promotion meeting, Union of Chambers and Stock Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stressed the importance of reviving the Investment Advisory Council. Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that it would be beneficial to give responsibility to the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce in this regard.
Reminding
that the Nicosia Economic Forum was established in 2014, the TOBB President
said that the Forum was an important platform for emphasizing the support of
the business world towards the solution negotiations on the island.
The
introductory meeting of the Turkey - Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce Forum founded
by TOBB and Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce was held at the TOBB Twin
Towers. At the opening of the meeting, Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan, TRNC
Economy and Energy Minister Özdil Nami, TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, TRNC
Chamber of Commerce President Turgay Deniz, Turkey-TRNC Chamber of Commerce
Forum TRNC Wing President Mustafa Young and Turkey-TRNC Chamber of Commerce
Forum Turkey Wing President M. Cihat Lokmanoğlu gave speeches.
In
his speech, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “As the Turkish business world,
we want to make more investments in the TRNC and to achieve increased mutual trade.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
stated that the foundation of the chamber was a visionary step. Stating that
Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce is the symbol of the struggle of the people
of the TRNC, Hisarcıklıoğlu stressed that TOBB always attaches importance to
developing relations with the organization.
Hisarcıklıoğlu,
stressing that they will always act together with the Turkish Cypriot Chamber
of Commerce in overcoming the unjust isolation of the Turkish Cypriot people,
said, “Economic and commercial relations between Turkey and the TRNC are extremely
important for our business community. Economy, trade, tourism, education, of
course, very important to our mutual bilateral relations. They are the
fraternal bonds between Turkey and the TRNC.”
Pointing
out that they have maintained strong relations with the Turkish Cypriot Chamber
of Industry, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they want the Turkish Cypriots to
prosper as the business community.
Hisarcıklıoğlu
pointed out the importance of reforms for the TRNC economy and said, “We will
continue to stand by Turkish Cypriots. We will continue to support the fair and
permanent solution process in the TRNC.”
Stating
that foreign direct investments are of great importance for economic
development, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that countries are competing with each other
and making arrangements for attracting direct investments.
Hisarcıklıoğlu
reminded that a model was proposed to the government of the Turkish Republic of
Northern Cyprus as TOBB and TRNC business community in 2011 and the Investment
Advisory Council was established.
Emphasizing
that tourism and education sectors are important for the economy of TRNC,
Hisarcıklıoğlu continued:
“We
want the development of TRNC agriculture and industry as well as the Turkish
Cypriot entrepreneurs to increase their production. As TOBB, we will continue
to support the development of the production capacity of the TRNC economy. As
the Turkish business world, we want to invest more in TRNC and increase our
bilateral trade relations. We want TRNC to be an island of prosperity and
stability in the Eastern Mediterranean.”
- Minister of Trade Ruhsar Pekcan
Ruhsar
Pekcan, Minister of Commerce, stated that Türk Eximbank also provided export
credit support to the companies located in the Turkish Republic of Northern
Cyprus (TRNC), “We wish companies in TRNC to benefit from these opportunities.”
Pekcan
stressed that they will continue to support TRNC in sub- and super-structure
projects, tourism and education among many other fields and said, “We are
working to add more power to the commercial and economic relations which draw
their strength from the brotherhood and culture of our countries, and will continue
to do so. We are aware of the importance of our trade and investment
partnerships in enhancing the welfare of the Turkish Cypriots. In order to
increase these partnerships, our NGOs have important duties.
Stating
that they give every support to ensure that all TRNC products encounter the
least issue in being imported by Turkey, Pekcan underlined that Cypriot products
will continue to be treated as products manufactured in Turkey.
Pekcan
reported that the issue regarding cargo declarations in transport from TRNC to
Turkey as per request.said:
“Our
efforts to resolve the issue in regards to goods which arrive from third
countries to Turkey and which are then exported to Cyprus are still underway.
At the base of all our efforts lies our belief in the prosperous future of
Cypriot Turks despite the unjust trade embargoes imposed upon them. Our
cooperation does not end there. We have also signed a protocol for regarding
the protection of consumer rights. Turkey Tradesmen and Craftsmen Credit
Guarantee Cooperatives Unions with Cyprus Turkish Tradesmen and Craftsmen
Credit Guarantee Cooperatives have also signed a cooperation protocol. This
protocol prepares necessary arrangements in order to enable Cyprus Turkish
Tradesmen and Craftsmen Credit Guarantee Central Cooperative to become a
partner for Turkey Tradesmen and Artisans Credit Guarantee Cooperatives
Unions.”
- Minister of Economy and Energy of
TRNC Özdil Nami
TRNC
Economy and Energy Minister Özdil Nami emphasized the importance of the forum
in terms of moving forward and improving trade relations between the TRNC and
Turkey:
“According
to 2017 data, TRNC is an economy with a gross national income of about 4
billion USD and a national income of 14,000 USD per capita. Our average annual
growth is around 5%. Our goal is to increase our national income per person
over 20,000 dollars in the next 10 years.”
Noting
that in order to increase TRNC's economic activity to the desired level, a
economy generating high added value is required, Özdil said, “The official
currency of our country is the Turkish lira, so the fluctuations in the Turkish
lira also affects us. Among measures we will take in this regard include
arrangements where we can implement by negotiations with Turkey. Cooperation
between Turkey and the TRNC should be increased in our to improve competitiveness
of the Cyprus economy and investment environment; support domestic production and
lower energy costs.”
- Turkey-TRNC Chamber of Commerce
Forum Turkey Wing President Cihat Lokmanoğlu
-
Turkey-TRNC Chamber of Commerce Forum Turkey Wing President Cihat Lokmanoğlu
also said that the TRNC's most important trade partner is Turkey and that, through
the bond of love between the two countries, trade and financial partnership relations
are strengthened.
Lokmanoğlu
stated that they want to invest more in TRNC, “Investment Advisory Council needs
to continue. Let's make TRNC more attractive in terms of investments. Cyprus,
especially after the water project from Turkey, can be extremely successful in
agriculture and in terms of the agricultural industry. We also think that there
are serious investment opportunities in the area.”
Lokmanoğlu
appealed to Minister of Trade, Ruhsar Pekcan, “Please continue to support us
and be open to requests.”
- Turkey-TRNC Turkish Cypriot
Chamber of Commerce Forum TRNC Wing President Mustafa Genç
Turkey-TRNC
Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce Forum TRNC Wing President Mustafa Genç,
stating that they want to work together, stressed that their continued goal is
to ensure the existence of Turks in the TRNC.
“The
experience, skills, technology among others are the kind of support we need
from Turkey,” said Genç and that the Forum is a great opportunity to ensure
this.
Genç
noting that about 1.1 billion US dollars trade volume exists between the TRNC
and Turkey, said, “Promoting the wider use Turkish lira will provide minimization
of risk stemming from fluctuations in currency.”
Pointing
to the need to increase the exports of the TRNC with Turkey, Genç urged that
mechanisms of exports to third countries via Turkey need to be reevaluated and bureaucracy
and costs be reduced.
- Turgay Deniz, President of the
Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Commerce
The
Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce President Turgay Deniz reported that they
are working to improve relations with Turkey, the Islamic world and the European
Union, and that that one of their major supporters is TOBB.
unlimited,
should be striking and non-tariff quota Deniz emphasized that economic
relations between the TRNC and Turkey should be unfettered by quotas and
tariffs and that is the target they are striving to achieve. Deniz emphasized
that this would be an important gain for the development of the economy of the
TRNC.
- Business luncheon
After
the opening speeches, a business luncheon was hosted. Following the addresses
of TOBB Board Member Cihat Lokmanoğlu Turkey-TRNC Chamber of Commerce Forum TRNC
Wing President Mustafa Genç, TEPAV Director Prof. Dr. Güven Sak gave a
presentation on “Turkey-TRNC Economic Relations.” Afterwards, the Forum's 2019
Action Plan Proposal was discussed.