25.04.2019 Kazan / Tatarstan
The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu participated in the opening session of the 11th Russian-Islamic World - Kazan Summit 2019, voicing the views of the Turkish business world.
Speaking
at the summit attended by the Russian Federation Tatarstan Autonomous Republic
President Rustam Minnihanov, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they are
attending the summit representing the Turkish business world, attending together
with presidents of chambers and exchanges from every region of Turkey.
Hisarcıklıoğlu
stated that TOBB is the umbrella organization of the business world in Turkey, “Both
domestic and foreign; small, medium and large-sized firms all are our members.
We have 1.5 million members. We represent all sectors of the economy, such as
trade, industry, agriculture, logistics, contracting and tourism. We also have
a very large network abroad. We are involved in the management of business
organizations in both Europe, Asia-Pacific and Islamic geography. I am the Vice
President of EUROCHAMBRES, the largest European business organization as well
as the Islamic Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
pointed out that there is a representative office of TOBB in Moscow and that
they are working together with the Russian Federation Chambers of Commerce and
Industry on a bilateral level and within EUROCHAMBRES.
Stressed
that they attach importance to the development of relations between Turkey and
the Russian Federation, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We want to elevate our bilateral
economic relations to the highest level. Our business people have been active
in the Russian Federation for a long time. They also established successful
partnerships. As a result, our trade volume with Russia reached 26 billion USD in
2018. Turkey was the most preferred tourism destination for Russians in 2018.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
stated that the expansion of cooperation between Russia and Turkey has also
made great contributions to the development of relations with Tatarstan.
Pointing
out that the Republic of Tatarstan is one of the most economically developed,
richest and regions with the highest level of welfare in the Russian Federation,
the TOBB President noted, “Kazan is an exceptional city which contains both the
richness and culture of Russia and the science of the East. The University of
Kazan has a long history of over 200 years. One of the 3 oldest universities in
Russia. Many famous names, such as Tolstoy and Lenin, graduated from here or
studied here. Many names instrumental in the establishment and development of the
Republic of Turkey are also of Tatar descent: Yusuf Akçura, Sadri Maksudi and
İsmail Gaspıralı among them. Turkey’s most important historians are also of
Tatar origin: İlber Ortaylı and Kemal Karpat. Famous Tatar poet Gabdulla Tukay
is very well known and well-loved in Turkey. In his memory, both in Istanbul
and Ankara, there is a street and a park with his statue and name at the city
center. In fact, President Rustem Minnikhanov has honored us with a speech at
one of the openings in 2012. Kazan and Istanbul are sister cities. In short,
our bilateral relations with Tatarstan have strong historical and economic
basis.”
Stating
that they want to increase trade and cooperation with Tatarstan, Hisarcıklıoğlu
said, “Tatarstan has become an important investment center for our companies.
The most important part of the Turkish investments in Russia is located in
Tatarstan. Total Turkish investments are around 2.5 billion USD. Among the
foreign-owned companies operating in Tatarstan, Turkish companies rank first. This
gives us pride and happiness. Tatarstan President Minnihanov's contribution to
Turkish capital being the first in Tatarstan is immense. I express my gratitude
to them.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
stated that a total of 73 billion USD worth of projects have been realized by
Turkish contractors in Russia, and that 2 billion USD of these projects are in
Tatarstan.
Hisarcıklıoğlu
stated that they want to increase volume of trade and investment improve and
that there is opportunity for investment in in all fields between Turkey and
Tatarstan.
Touching
on the importance of the summit, as a representative of the Islamic world,
Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “About 20 million Muslims live in Russia. Islam and the
Muslim community are part of Russia. The Russian Federation is one of the 5
states that is accepted as an observer member by the Organization of Islamic
Cooperation although it is not an Islamic country. Therefore, Russia and the
Islamic world should consider opportunities together. This organization is
extremely important for the development of cooperation between the Russian
Federation and Islamic countries. This necessary, because I have to say with
regret that the Islamic world is in a very troubled period. In economy,
technology, innovation, we're always behind. We must read the world correctly
and understand these well: First, whatever countries are developing in the
world, it is because they put importance on 3 freedoms: Freedom of opinion, freedom
of belief and freedom of enterprise. These lie at the foundations of Turkey
post-1980.
Second,
trade. In ruins following two world wars, Europe has come so far. They
established economic unity among themselves, ended conflicts and wars, prospered
together. We have not a single year in peace and tranquility. The most
important way to change the bad image of the Islamic world is trade. Because
trade is the greatest source of peace. Traders don’t talk war. Therefore, we
must first remove trade barriers between our countries and increase trade with
each other. We must write a success story like the European Union. For
instance, people trade with countries which they have easy access to. After the
commencement of trade, they make investments and establish partnerships. So, we
must identify and remove any obstacles that make trade difficult, such as visas
and transitional documents between us.”
After
the summit, Hisarcıklıoğlu attended a press conference organized by the
President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnihanov to evaluate the summit.
- 2nd Russian Islamic
Cooperation Organization Halal Expo Opened
TOBB
President Hisarcıklıoğlu participated in the opening ceremony of the 2nd
Russia Islamic Cooperation Organization Halal Expo in Tatarstan with the
participation of the President of Tatarstan Rustam Minnihanov. Hisarcıklıoğlu toured
the booths with President Minnihanov.
Hisarcıklıoğlu
and his accompanying delegation visited the Tatarstan Chamber of Commerce and
Industry and the Turkey’s Consulate General to Kazan.
Accompanying
TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu in the delegation were TOBB Vice
President Selçuk Öztürk, TOBB Board Member Davut Çetin, Adana Commodity
Exchange President Şahin Bilgiç, Denilzi Commodity Exchange President İbrahim
Tefenlili, TOBB Foreign Affairs Commission President and MerzifonChamber of
Commerce and Industry President Dursun Dağdelen and Yerköy Commodity Exchange
President Derviş Esatbeyoğlu.