06.07.2019 Nicosia TRNC
The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, in his address at the Turkey-TRNC Chamber of Commerce Forum’s 1st Economics Conference, stated that they work together as Turkey and the TRNC business communities and that they want to share their experiences.
Attending
the Turkey-TRNC Chamber of Commerce Forum 1st Economy Conference
held in cooperation by The Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce and TOBB in
Nicosia, the capital of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus were TOBB
President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Turkish Vice President Fuat Oktay, TRNC
Prime Minister Tatar, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Kudret Özersay,
Turkey's Ambassador to Nicosia Ali Murat Başçer, Turkish Cypriot Chamber of
Maritime Commerce President Turgay Deniz as well as many politicians and representatives
from the business community.
In
his speech, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the cooperation he
observed in the meeting was promising for the future and said:
“Our
vision as the Turkish private sector is a TRNC, whose economy is growing, its people
prospering, integrated into the international system, freed from the unjust
economic and political isolation to which it has been subjected, standing
firmly on its own feet. We have voiced the just plight of Turkish Cypriots on
all international platforms and continue to do so. Turkey and Turkish business community
are working together to achieve this. we share the same vision with the Cyprus
Chamber of Commerce. The Turkey-TRNC Chamber of Commerce Forum was established
for this purpose.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
stated that, one of the first concrete steps is the conference itself,
reporting that over a hundred business people are in attendance at the
conference.
Hisarcıklıoğlu
said, “We have shown to the whole world that Turkish Cypriots are not alone by
investing and trading here. Now we aim to make more trade and investment. For
this, we want to help you by transferring the experiences we have gained in the
past to improve the business and investment environment in the TRNC. The
revival of the Investment Advisory Council by the TRNC government is a very
important development in this regard. It will undoubtedly be very beneficial
for the TRNC.”
- TRNC Prime Minister Ersin Tatar
TRNC
Prime Minister Ersin Tatar stated that stability, safe environment and
entrepreneurial spirit is needed to develop the economy.
TRNC
Prime Minister Tatar emphasized the importance of the presence of the Turkish
government in solidarity with TRNC as represented by Vice President Fuat Oktay
and thanked TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu for his ongoing support.
Tatar,
pointing out that he became the Minister of Finance in 2009, “Again at that
time Mr. Hisarcıklıoğlu was with us. I remember well, at that time (2009) when
we came to the government the number of students was falling from 30,000 to
25,000. There was a mistake here, and we immediately went into action. Currently,
the number of students has exceeded 100,000. Our goal should be 150,000, there
is no reason not to aim for this. Now the infrastructure and everything is proper,
but most importantly we have human resources.”
Tatar
underlined that the government should take some measures in order to improve
public finances.
“The
secret and success of this business is the growth of the economy. If we fail to
grow the economy, raise student numbers, fail to increase our hospitality
capacity in tourism, fail to finish infrastructure work or bring a solution to
the energy problem, we will be unable to compete. The answer we must draw from
these meetings is the necessity of a stable government.”
- Vice President Fuat Oktay
Delivering
a speech at the meeting in Nicosia, Vice President Fuat Oktay said, “Those
acting in contravention to the legitimate rights of Turkey and Northern Cyprus
in the region, those wishing to ignore Turkey, will never reach their goals.”
Stating
that the Conference is an indication of the importance put on business people
for the development of economic relations in addition to the fraternity between
Turkey and the TRNC, Oktay expressed his wishes for the meetings to be held
with Turkish Cypriot companies and approximately 100 companies from Turkey who
are in attendance at the conference to prove beneficial for all parties.
Oktay
said today that the Turkish Cypriot people are still subjected to embargo and
restrictions in many areas, pushing the limits of reason and conscience.
-
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign
Minister Kudret Özersay
In
his speech, TRNC Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Kudret
Özersay said, “We will not allow a fait-accompli to take place in the Eastern
Mediterranean. We are even now on the field with the Yavuz and Fatih drilling
vessels. And if discussion necessitates that various actions be take then all
parties involved will act accordingly.”
Bilateral
business meetings also took place as a part of the Turkey-TRNC Chamber of
Commerce Forum.