29.11.2019 Berlin / Germany
The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, attended the 14th Meeting of the Turkish-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TATSO) General Assembly held in Berlin.
Hisarcıklıoğlu
said Turkish-German friendship has a long history and this friendship has
resisted very serious challenges throughout history.
Hisarcıklıoğlu
said, “The foundations of our friendship are robust. These solid foundations
offer us, as the business world, a wide range of collaborative areas in the
Middle East, Central Asia, Europe and the world in general, at a binary level
in the future.Daily, current and cyclical
developments cannot be allowed to harm the soundness of our relations.
Hisarcıklıoğlu
stressed that the economic dimension of relations between the two countries is
on a solid basis and that Germany is turkey's most important trading partner
and is the most important investor country in Turkey.
Hisarcıklıoğlu
pointed out that people of Turkish origin living in Germany have fulfilled
their duties as a bridge between the two countries, adding, “We are also proud
of their integration into German society and the German economy. In Germany,
80,000 Turkish entrepreneurs have an annual turnover of 50 billion Euros and provide
employment to 500,000 people.”
- “It will be one of the most
important projects in terms of win-win”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
reported that 7,000 German companies in Turkey operate and employ 120,000
people, Germany's investment in Turkey is around 10 billion euros. Considering
that Germany's foreign investment is 700 billion euros, it is only 1 percent
that comes to us today. We're complaining about that, too. So we've got a lot
of distance to take.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
stressed that those who invest in Turkey today will be the winners of tomorrow,
and went on: “I'd like to make a call to Volkswagen from here. Japan is a brand
country in the world for producing cars with zero production errors. Toyota has
a factory in Turkey, and when you compare it to all the factories of Toyota in
the world, there are zero production errors in its production, which is the
investment it has made in Sakarya, Turkey. Even in Japan they produce the
occasional faulty vehicle while the product produced in Turkey comes out with
zero errors. This shows the skill of the Turkish worker and the Turkish
technicians. At the same time, the most efficient factory of all Ford factories
in the world is Ford's investment in Kocaeli. Volkswagen had decided to invest
in Turkey but suspended it most likely for political reasons. If Volkswagen
invests in Turkey, both Volkswagen, Germany and Turkey will win. It It will be one
of the most important projects in terms of win-win. Hopefully, we expect the
final decision to be positive by the end of this year. In this context, we look
forward to the support of our esteemed friends.”
- “Turkey has prevented a large
wave of refugees in Europe”
Hisarcıklıoğluunderlined
that Turkey's Operation Peace Spring was carried out to clear northern Syria
from terrorist organizations, adding, “It was important that terrorist
organizations which threaten 82 million are pushed away from our borders. It
was essential for the peace and well-being of the people of the region and for
Turkey's security. It also prevented a
possible influx of refugees. Otherwise, a new and large wave of refugees would
begin to reach millions in both Turkey and Europe. We have prevented this, and we
expect Germany and our friends to see it and support it.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu,
noting that Germany's leadership and support is decisive on key issues such as
Turkey's accession process to the European Union (EU), the agreement reached
between the EU and Turkey on Syrian refugees, abolition of visas imposed on
Turkish citizens, and updating the Customs Union, concluded: “These areas are
based on the common values of Turkey, Germany, even the EU, based on their
interests. In this context, Germany's leadership and support in these areas is
crucial. We want to increase our economic relations with Germany. This is why
we come here with a very large delegation of businessmen in Turkey and the
leading chamber and commodity exchange presidents of our country. We believe
that both these visits and our bilateral chambers will further our relations.”
- Other speakers
Turkey's
Ambassador to Berlin Ali Kemal Aydın also noted Turkey and Germany's historical
friendship, saying that due to the geographical location, historical ties and
economic development of the two countries, their interests have always required
mutual close cooperation.
Aydın
reported that within the multilateral and trade freedom based international
system, both countries' economies and exports are growing, “The protectionist
tests facing the multilateral system based on rules today have raised concerns
about the future of economies whose prosperity, such as Germany and Turkey,
depends on foreign trade and investments. In this environment, while strongly
advocating multilateralism in the international plan, it is important to
re-accelerate the deepening of bilateral and EU-Turkey integration. It is
useful to be able to look beyond the daily headlines of the media and to make
our moves by looking far ahead instead of being myopic. At this point, I
believe that the two countries have an important role in the economic
bureaucracy and trade institutions.”
Ambassador
Aydın stated that institutions and institutionalization are important in the
protection and development of prosperity and that The TD-IHK maintains the
power of Turkish-German trade and investment relations, which are important for
the future and prosperity of both countries, and is an important player in
institutionalization.
Aydın,
stating that there is a great potential within the framework of partnership and
cooperation between Turkey and Germany despite a series of differences of
opinion, said, “All we need is to know and understand each other better; to
build and develop relationships on an equal footing. I think there's a lot of
work to be done. I believe that we will leave behind this period of hardship
that we are going through. I want you to know that both sides are doing their
best in good faith.”
Ambassador
Aydın, referring to the social ties between the two countries, “There are
nearly 100 paired cities between Germany and Turkey. Both the embassy and 13
consulates are ready to cooperate with you.”
- Three-stage cooperation
Rolf
König, President of the Turkish-German Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said
that those investing in Turkey have won, noting that while in 1989, they
achieved very little turnover from their investment in Turkey, but today this
turnover has reached 380 million Euros.
“When
we went to Turkey for investment in 1989, they asked, 'Why did you go? Did you
go for cheap labor?' The Germans didn't understand us back then. We invested in
Turkey with a three-stage strategic goal. For the first 5 years we produced
only for the Turkish market. As the second stage, our enterprises in the
country began to export to other countries. For the third stage, our businesses
in Turkey started to establish companies in other countries. We knew this
potential in Turkey. The investor in Turkey wins. We will continue to invest in
Turkey. We must work to produce new products to increase the added value. We
will achieve this with Turkey's excited and young population.”
“We
do not engage in politics for the benefit of both countries,” König said, stressing
that they do not discuss politics for Turkish-German friendship.
König,
reporting that they’ve established a cement factory in Soma where 301 miners
lost their lives, said, “We went to Soma for solidarity. The mayor showed me a
cement factory project. The French would have done it, but they didn't. I sent
my friends to Soma three days later. We bought land and we built the cement
factory. The investor in Turkey wins. We will continue to invest in Turkey. We
must work to produce new products to increase the added value. We will achieve
this with turkey's excited and young population.”
- Turkey is a must
Former
European Union (EU) Commission Vice-President Günter Verheugen, recalling that
in 2004, the EU's enlargement process results report recommended that Turkey
continue negotiations on the accession process, said, “Today, 15 years later, when
considering Turkish-German relations, Turkey is undoubtedly an indispensable part
of Europe economically and culturally.
It is undoubtedly part of the Western alliance. Without Turkey, the Union
has no future.”
Verheugen
stressed that no matter what Turkey does, it is always seen as unfair, noting
that Turkey's security concerns are not adequately understood.
Stressing
that Turkey is not responsible for Turkey's EU membership being blocked,
Verheugen said, “Those who cause this should think carefully about what
historical responsibility they’ve taken on. We're facing challenges, and we can
only overcome them together. Turkey must be a member of the EU, because we need
Turkey.”
Former
EU Commission Vice-President Verheugen stressed that there is great potential
in relations between Germany and Turkey, “Wherever you go in Turkey, you meet
people who love and know Germany. It's good to see.”
- “Revival process must be
completed”
Wittke,
former German Ministry of Economy and Energy Undersecretary for Turkey, also
spoke at the event, saying the process for improving relations between Germany
and Turkey started last year should continue.
“The
process we initiated with the German Minister of Economy and Energy during our
visit to Ankara last year is still incomplete. This process between Germany and
Turkey must be completed. There was a need for a new revival between the two
countries. This process should definitely not be interrupted.”
Recalling
that 3.5 million people of Turkish origin live in Germany, Wittke said, “They
are building bridges between the two countries. We want to contribute to this
with all our strength here. Governments come and go, people who build bridges are
permanent. Don't leave relations to politicians. We need people who build
bridges to break down prejudices.”