05.04.2019 İstanbul
The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu attended the Ministry of Commerce Advisory Council Review Meeting held in Istanbul presided over by Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan. Hisarcıklıoğlu said in his speech, “At a time of increased instability in the global economy and rising geopolitical risks, the period free of elections are a golden opportunity for the 82 million for Turkey to progress towards its goals.
Attending
the meeting in addition to Minister Pekcan and Hisarcıklıoğlu were Turkey
Tradesmen and Artisans Confederation (TESK) Chairman Bendevi Palandöken, Turkey
Exporters Assembly (TIM) President İsmail Gülle, the Turkish Industrialists and
Business People's Association (TUSIAD) President Simone Kaslowski, Foreign
Economic Relations Board (DEIK) President Nail Olpak, Independent
Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (MUSIAD) President Abdurrahman
Kaan and Turkey Contractors Association (TMB) President Mithat Yenigün.
Hisarcıklıoğlu,
in his speech at the Ministry of Commerce Advisory Council Review Meeting held
with the participation of Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan, stated that as Turkish
business organizations, they came together with the Minister of Commerce,
Ruhsar Pekcan, in order to consult on this new breakthrough period and
stressing the importance of these consultation meetings.
- Election-free period of opportunity
Hisarcıklıoğlu,
referring to the opportunities that will be provided by the next 4.5 year
period without elections, said, “We see the next 4.5 years with no elections as
an important opportunity to bring permanent solutions to our structural
problems, because we have more steps to take in the economy and more work to be
done. The economy has indicated this necessity prior to the election.”
Pointing
out that an announcement by Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak is
expected to draw a new road map for the economy next week, Hisarcıklıoğlu said:
“With
this roadmap, confidence in our country and economy will increase by continuing
the disciplined stance in public finances, continuing to reduce the need for
outsourcing, improving the competitiveness of the private sector through
cautionary measures. At a time of increased instability in the global economy
and rising geopolitical risks, the period free of elections are a golden
opportunity for the 82 million for Turkey to progress towards its goals.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
stated that through a period of action and reform, they would reach the 100th
anniversary of the Republic of Turkey, 2023, stressed that they should raise
the country's economic level as befitting its centennial anniversary and
implement a new investment, production and growth model within this scope.
“Now,
it is time to focus on the future of the country, to write a new economic
success story together,” Hisarcıklıoğlu stressed that it is necessary to support
the employment campaign launched last month with a new investment and growth
campaign, focus on persistent reforms for Turkey to progress towards its goals
and to make the economy the primary focus of their agenda.
- Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan
In
her speech at the opening of the meeting, Minister of Trade Ruhsar Pekcan
stated that they have come together with the heads of NGOs representing almost
all of the business world at the consultation meetings, and that they have put
their problems and solution proposals on the table, planning the future.
Stating
that they’ve formulated roadmaps together in regards to Brexit, the Customs Union
update and new markets, Pekcan added that joint working groups have been formed,
striving to create higher added-value endeavors and positive contributions to
the economy by combining the power of civil society and the power of the state.
Pekcan said, “The period ahead will be one of action to take very important
steps in the economy for us.”
Pekcan
reported that, according to the General Trade System (GTS), March exports
reached 16.334 billion USD, first quarter exports increasing by 3.44% while
imports decreased by 21.46%.
Pointing
out that in the first quarter of last year, the ratio of exports to imports was
67.1%, while this figure rose to 88.2% in the same period of 2019, Pekcan went
on:
“What
does this mean? External financing needs of our country, borrowing needs are
decreasing. Our foreign trade figures for first three months compared with the
same period of 2018, our external financing needs decreasing by 15.2 billion
USD. Secondly, it is an indication of net exports contributing to Turkey's
growth.
Under
these global economy circumstances, Turkey's economy has grown by 2.6%. The
contribution of our foreign trade to this growth is 4.2%. In the third quarter,
the contribution of our foreign trade to growth was 6.73 and the contribution
of our net exports to growth was 9.7 points in the last quarter. These figures
also show that exports have become a decisive force in Turkey’s economy. Our
aim is to increase reforms in the coming period to continue this positive
contribution by increasing exports and ratio of exports to imports.”
- “We hope 2019 will be a year of
action for us”
Pekcan
spoke in regards to what has been done within the scope of the first 100-day
action plan, explaining the reforms and projects implemented by the ministry in
recent years.
Pekcan
talked about the activities of tradesmen and craftsmen in the fields of
exporting, expanding of exports, branding, use of new technologies and
e-commerce.
Pekcan
reported the launching of paper-free customs, start of legislation to establish
a specialized free zone as well as the commerce electronic recordkeeping program
which is underway.
Pekcan,
referring to the modernization of the border gates, stated that Habur and
Kapikule are continuing their expansion efforts.
- Other speakers
Turkey
Tradesmen and Artisans Confederation (TESK) President Bendevi Palandöken stated
that the elections are behind them now and the agenda must focus on the economy,
ensure people’s prosperity and eliminate unfair competition.
Turkish
Industrialists and Business People's Association (TUSIAD) President Simone
Kaslowski, noting that Turkey has been focused on a busy political agenda in the
last 4 years, said, “Today, our priority should be to bring the inflation rate
to the low single digit levels as soon as possible to ensure financial
stability.”
Turkey
Exporters Assembly (TIM) President İsmail Gülle, noting that a 4.5-year election-free
period is ahead of them, “We must spend this time talking and creating economic
reforms, expanding more support and incentives as well as increasing exports.”
Turkey
Union of Contractors (TMB) President Mithat Yenigün stated that they have the
potential to make a powerful leap in 4-4.5-year period ahead and that the contracting
sector has been in contact with the whole world.
Independent
Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (MUSIAD) President Abdurrahman
Kaan, stated that, as of today, the country will focus on the economy and expend
energy wholly on the economy for the next 4.5 years.
Nail
Olpak, the President of the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK), said that
in recent years, the election agendas have been too busy and that it is now
time to devote even more time to economic development and reforms than we
currently do.