01.11.2019 Ankara
The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said at the Qatar-Turkey Business Forum that the Turkish entrepreneur is experienced and courageous, adding, “What Qatar has that we lack is capital accumulation and financial experience. Let's put them together with projects. Let's get the Turkey-Qatar partnership accepted by the whole world."
Qatar-Turkey
Business Forum was held at JW Marriott Hotel with the participation of Vice
President Fuat Oktay, Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin
Khalifa Al Sani, Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan, Qatari Trade and Industry Minister
Ali bin Ahmed Al-Kuwari.
In
his speech at the event, Hisarcıklıoğlu said Turkey and Qatar are working
together in many areas, including the economy.
Pointing
out that the volume of bilateral trade is approaching $3 billion, up from
approximately $500 million 10 years ago, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “10 years ago,
the Qatari capital investing in our country was $100 million, and now it is
$2.5 billion. The value of the projects undertaken by Turkish companies in
Qatar reached $17 billion. These are very important developments, but we are at
the beginning of the work.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
pointed out that the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar is a great opportunity for
the promotion and tourism of this country, and that they are as proud that
Qatar is the first Muslim country to host the event.”
- “We are closely following Qatar's
2030 National Vision”
Noting
that they are closely following the “2030 National Vision” put forward by
Qatar, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Qatar is taking a very appropriate step. We
support this vision to diversify the economy. We sincerely believe that you
will succeed. Because we as Turkey have experienced a similar transformation in
the recent past.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
called for the two countries to join forces, saying:
“We
have a great experience and brave entrepreneurs, and Qatar has the capital
accumulation and financial experience which we lack. Let's get the Turkey-Qatar
partnership accepted by the whole world. Let's make this the peace-trade-wealth
line of the region.”
- Vice President Fuat Oktay
Vice
President Fuat Oktay said, “Those who try to discredit our history and our
stand against terrorism in their parliaments should know that we will not
ignore the threats, we will not change our path.”
On
the occasion of close friendship between the heads of state, Turkey-Qatar
relations have followed a sincere and visionary course, especially in recent
years, Oktay said, adding that bilateral trade and economic relations between
the countries are built on sincere brotherhood.
Stating
that friendship relations once again strongly confirmed within the scope of the
Qatar's Prime Minister and Interior Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Nasser bin
Khalifa Al Sani's visit, Oktay expressed that, on the 46th anniversary
of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, they
are proud of the level of cooperation that has been reached.
Oktay
also stressed that it is gratifying that the two countries' bilateral economic
relations have reached $30 billion volume.
- Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan
Trade
Minister Ruhsar Pekcan stated that they are ready to share strategic projects
with Qatari investors and said, “We invite them to take advantage of Turkey's
dynamic economy and to invest more in Turkey.”
In
her speech at the panel, held within the scope of the forum, Pekcan said
businesspeople should improve the friendship and fraternity relations between
Turkey and Qatar by increasing the volume of bilateral trade and investments.
Reporting
that, recently, trade relations with Qatar have increased by around 75%, but
still remain at the level of $2.3 billion, Pekcan said that this does not
reflect the full trade potential of the two countries.
Pekcan
pointed out that Turkish exports have always been the driving force of the
economy, and said that Turkey will achieve a growth rate of 5% by carrying out
structural transformations according to the New Economy Program.