18.11.2020 Ankara
The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and various ministers attended the opening of the TOBB Turkey Economy Summit held at TOBB Twin Towers, “Under your leadership, a bold, innovative, new structural reform move, will bring us forward in global competition. At this point, I'd like to emphasize this: In legislative reforms, as before, establishing public-private dialogue mechanisms and strengthening the consultation we have always put great importance on will be very beneficial.”
The Turkey Economy Summit,hosted by TOBB President M. Rifat
Hisarcıklıoğlu, was held via video conference with the participation of
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Vice President Fuat Oktay, Treasury and Finance
Minister Lütfi Elvan, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Bekir Pakdemirli, Trade
Minister Ruhsar Pekcan, Culture and Tourism Minister Mehmet Nuri Ersoy,
Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank, Transport and
Infrastructure Minister Adil Karaismailoğlu and TOBB Board of Directors Members.
TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said, noting
that they started the Economy Summit in 2003 under the instruction of President
Erdoğan, “You've been there for us ever since. You gave good news in this room.
As you know, we didn't hold a General Assembly this year because of the
pandemic. But thank you for coming to listen to our problems and consult on
solutions. Welcome to the heart of Turkish business.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu said that about 3,000 people
from 81 provinces and 160 districts, including the opinion leaders of their
regions, Chamber and Commodity Exchange Presidents, TOBB Delegates, Women and
Young Entrepreneurs and Secretaries General are viewing the Summit live, “They
all worked intensively during the pandemic. They solved the problems of the
provinces and districts, prepared proposals. They identified the local economic
difficulties. They consulted with their members. They passed on their demands
to us. So, we conveyed to our Ministers what needs to be done urgently, no
matter what time it was. We worked from the ground-up. I'm proud of our
community. I thank them all individually.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu said that they have put together
all the problems and proposals for the Summit, sorting them on a provincial
basis and also according to the ministries.
“The fact that you are among us, both in terms
of operating the wheels of bureaucracy and seeing that we are not alone in our
struggle, is very valuable to us,” Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We believe that you
will bring solutions to the issues that we will bring up today, as in the past.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu reminded that many examples of
this in a few months, “Especially short work allowance, you have reduced the
employment burdens on our companies. To support the Domestic Market, you have
made tax breaks. You've doubled the bail capacity of the Loan Guarantee Fund.
You have offered low-cost loans to our businesses through state-owned banks. I
would also like to take this opportunity to thank our Ministers for all these
actions. Thanks to them, every time we call, they're always on duty. They even
work in the middle of the night; they're there for us when we need them, they
solve our problems. I would like to take this opportunity to offer our sincere
thanks to you and all our ministers for your efforts, on behalf of the
community and on behalf of the Turkish private sector.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu said that the whole world is on
the eve of a new era and that they should be ready for this new era in every
way.
Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out that positive news
from vaccine efforts in the second half of 2021 point to a possible beginning
of the recovery period. New opportunities will present themselves for our
country. We see and hear this in our overseas contacts. To take these
opportunities, we need to act and prepare now. Because fortune smiles upon the prepared.
Opportunities aren’t accidents. Yes, we've crossed critical bends. But we've
got a long, hard journey with ups and downs.
There are also new balances being established
in the world. The 15 countries of the Asia-Pacific region have signed the
world's largest free trade agreement, covering 30 percent of the global
economy. On the other hand, despite the discovery of the vaccine, it will take
time to approve and become widespread. Therefore, we need to design a program
that will allow us to be ready for the post-epidemic period as well as to give
confidence to investors.
I find your statements, starting with your last
group meeting, very valuable in this respect. There was a positive atmosphere
with your statements. Morale's up. The messages that the institutional
structure and the legal system will be strengthened, and reforms will be
accelerated have been received very positively in the business world. With
investor-friendly, transparent and predictable policies, it was also important
to explain that the Turkish Lira will be supported.
Again, as you have emphasized in particular,
with price stability, financial stability and macroeconomic stability, Turkey
will be able to re-capture the brisk growth process. Because the business world
wants to look to the future, to be able to make plans. The prerequisite for
increasing investments, production and employment is stability, trust and
reduced uncertainties about the future. The way to do this is through price
stability. Fighting inflation also requires stability in exchange rates. An
environment where prices and rates are constantly increasing is decreasing the
appetite for doing business and negatively affecting production and investment
decisions. Therefore, it is important to ensure stability in exchange rates.
Again, your dialogue with the leaders of EU
Institutions at the highest level is very important for supporting the economy
and for the future of EU-Turkey relations. In this context, despite some EU
leaders lacking vision, we see great benefit in keeping relations with the EU
strong, updating the Customs Union and returning to a positive agenda in
relations, including visa dialogue.”
A bold and innovative, a new structural reform
move, launched under the leadership of President Erdoğan, will bring Turkey
forward in global competition, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “At this point, I'd like to
emphasize this: In legislative reforms, as before, establishing public-private
dialogue mechanisms and strengthening the consultation we have always put great
importance on will be very beneficial. Because in the draft law proposals, the
private sector's opinion is not taken in a timely way, causing many problems in
the field. We're ready to work and produce. This wheel won't be stuck on this
bump. Allah willing, we're going to get through all this, and we're going to
move on. Together, we will bring Turkey back into a brisk growth process. We
will continue to produce and work to make our country stronger, richer, more
prosperous.”
- President Erdoğan
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan expressed his pleasure
in meeting with participants, albeit via video conference.
“’There is an invisible path from heart to
heart; it goes from heart to heart,’ As the poet said, so there is a path from
us to you.” Erdoğan quoted and went on:
“We were not placed here, we did not come here under
guardianship, we did not inherit it from our father, we did not come through
the aristocratic canals. We came here by climbing the stairs of life one by
one, as one with all segments of our nation, by personally experiencing the
difficulties and possibilities. The high-minded rhetoric of those who never
worked a job other than in the government during their lifetime is as the rattle
of a tin can. You know best that they have no idea what the numbers on the
papers in front of them mean. It is not possible to explain the economy to
someone who does not yet know what the Cyprus issue is and what the opening of
Maraş means, and who does not understand the diplomatic message of the image given
by a delegation headed by Turkey's President.”
Erdoğan emphasized that answer to the nation,
as they always say, “It is our business world with all the segments that come
out of the cherished of our nation. Like all considerations, economy and
industry and trade are a business of heart, a work of dedication. We, as a
politician from trade, have always stood with our entrepreneurs,
industrialists, traders, tradesmen, artisans.”
- “When I called for braves, you immediately
came out and aspired to this job”
Erdoğan pointed out that they give special
importance to participate in the General Assembly, here and various activities
of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey, “When I sought out
braves for the domestic car, the century-old dream of our country, you
immediately came forward and aspired to this job. By fulfilling your promise in
the presence of our nation, you have implemented Turkey's automobile project
step by step. Hopefully, we will bring this beautiful project to its completion
with you. In the same way, in memory of the martyred Prime Minister Adnan
Menderes, we have made Yassıada, which came to be known as the mourning island,
an island of democracy and freedoms with you.”
President Erdoğan stated this year due to the
outbreak of coronavirus, as with all other regards, the business world has been
facing a unique period, noting that this year's General Assembly of the Union
of Chambers and Exchanges of Turkey was postponed.
Erdoğan underlined that they want to meet with
the business world, albeit through video conferencing, because of this
situation, “First of all, many of my friends watching us who are currently sick
with Covid-19, I wish them all rapid recovery. May Allah grant you and all your
colleagues relief as soon as possible.”
- “It's obvious what high interest costs”
Stating that they believe that Chamber and commodity
exchange representatives operating at the heart of the economy in 81 provinces
and 160 districts reflect the pulse of the business world the best, President Erdoğan
said:
“In the meantime, especially because of the
high interest production, trade, exports, employment representatives, you as
interpreters you shed light on what is happening in the field for the
decision-makers. Because it's obvious what high interest costs. Can we really
invest with high interest rates? You are in this business. Can we produce
employment? It's not possible. Can we produce? That's not possible either. Can
we take serious steps towards exports? That's not possible either. So we need
to be much more careful at this point and not crush our investor under high
interest rates. For this, we give special importance to consult with our
business world and their representatives on everything related to the economy.
In all the decisions we make, we take advantage of the common mind that we have
created with you in all the steps we have taken. We talk with you, discuss and
develop solutions to the problems, demands and expectations of our sectors and
cities.”
Erdoğan emphasized that 365 chambers and commodity
exchanges serve as locomotives in Turkey's journey to democracy and
development, which has come a long way in the last 18 years, “In addition to
giving its members the most advanced services required by the age, each room
and stock exchange made a very important contribution to the Turkish economy.
When I sat down and talked to a lot of industrialists, a lot of our
businessmen, they all told me how it went down, how it ended, and they always
said, what was that? 'He sunk me interest, he finished me interest, I paid so
much interest, I pay so much interest' is there any persecution of people who
say that. Hopefully, we will reverse them, and from now on we will continue to
walk towards our goals by overcoming the obstacles that have been overcome by
your persuasion, diligence, persuasion and ability.”
Erdoğan said that they have implemented a large
number of support packages that are free of interest, from employment to
financing, especially cash flow to incentives, and that the largest loan
packages, Credit Guarantee Fund bails and employment incentives implemented so
far were also initiated during this period.
Erdoğan said that they postponed taxes and
premiums for 6 months in dozens of sectors adversely affected by the pandemic
and reminded them that they have brought long-term restructuring to accumulated
public receivables, and that the law on this has been passed in Parliament.
“Now we have a new era ahead of us. We now need
to focus much more strongly on manufacturing, investment, employment and
exports. Together, we will leave this troubled period behind just like the
previous one and hopefully reach the goal of a great and powerful Turkey. I ask
you to increase your efforts and strengthen your will without ever forgetting
that your President and government stands by our companies and producers.”
Pointing out that Turkey has left behind 18
years of reforms and sustainable growth at the center of its policies, Erdoğan
said that with the understanding of all-out development, they have carried out
services that touch every household and person in all 81 provinces.
Erdoğan expressed that, with the understanding
of market economy, they have strengthened Turkey with transparent and
predictable policies based on competition.
“As we do today, we have given special
importance to being in consultation with all walks of life. The biggest
democracy and development move in Turkey's history began in our era. We
increased our national income from $236 billion to $950 billion and our exports
from $36 billion to $152 billion. By raising our national income per capita to
$12,500, we raised our country to the group of upper-middle-income countries.
Direct investments in our country reached $138 billion. We cut the inflation
rate from 32 percent to 4 percent and brought interest rates to the lowest
levels in history. As we rise confidently towards our 2023 goals as a country
and nation, we suddenly encountered a huge wave of attacks inside and outside.
We have overcome all these attacks, starting with the events of the Gezi Park and
extending to the encircling of our borders, from the coup attempt to the traps
set for our economy. While we concentrated our fight for the future with all
our strength, we did not neglect the investments and the economy. Even during
this period of historical struggle, we have implemented hundreds of large
projects.”
- “We have achieved many things deemed
impossible”
Erdoğan, pointing out that they have taken very
important steps towards becoming a regional and global power, beyond
self-defense, “We have undertaken many operations and many successes deemed
impossible. Thanks to our strong industrial infrastructure, rich human
resources and hardworking entrepreneurs focused on development, we have found
new ways to overcome every challenge. The progress our country has made in the defense
industry is followed with admiration all over the world.”
Erdoğan stressed that the third airport they
have added to Istanbul is one of the most important infrastructures of Turkey's
vision for 2053.
“From education to health, from transportation
to energy, we have implemented projects of real historical importance in all
areas during this period of adversity. Even our comprehensive General Health
Insurance system is a success story in itself; we understand its value much
better during the pandemic with city hospitals. Here in İstanbul Atatürk
Airport and Sancaktepe 1008-bed hospitals were constructed in a period of 2
months and patients can reach the hospital in 5 minutes from the plane. Why did
we do all this? To fight Covid.”
- “Entering a new era in Turkey with the world”
Erdoğan emphasizing that they have taken very
important steps in the fight against the pandemic, having built a huge hospital
in Başakşehir as well, said:
“With the reforms we have made to pave the way
for our investors, we have placed our country in 33rd place among
190 countries by rising 27 places in the ease of doing business index. To put
this in context, in 2002, when the company establishment period was 38 days, we
reduced the period to under 7 days. Now Turkey is entering a new era with the
world through the process of change revealed by the pandemic. Our country is
considered one of the rising centers of investment, production and trade. We
are now at a time when even gear shifting is not enough, we need to change
vehicles. We are determined to do whatever it takes to do so.”
President Erdoğan pointed out that the legal
and economic reforms they have been working on for some time are preparations
for this new era.
“As a government which has implemented the most
established democratic and economic reforms in Turkey, of course it is our duty
to implement the changes needed in the coming period. We are now on the verge
of a breakthrough that will finalize our building, which we laid the foundation
for, so to speak. Hopefully, our country will leave the preparatory era behind
and enter the new era in full stride. We will continue to provide the most
appropriate conditions for domestic and international investors in every sense.
We will see our country differentiate itself in production, employment, exports
and growth in a positive way. With the leading data for September, it is now
certain that we will close the third quarter with strong growth. In September,
our industrial production increased on both a monthly and yearly basis, a most
significant success.”
- “I believe we will end the year with positive
growth”
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the turnover index
increased by 26.2 per cent year-on-year in September, with steps in the
industrial and commercial sectors.
Erdoğan also expressed his believes that they
will end the year with positive growth despite difficulties caused by the pandemic
and which are still ongoing, “For this, the fight against inflation is our top
priority. Our goal is to reach the single digit inflation figures as soon as
possible. We will continue on our way with a growth and employment-oriented
understanding by maintaining fiscal discipline, improving the quality of public
financing, implementing structural and micro-reforms, and not deviating from
our line of change.”
Erdoğan stressed that they will solve the
problems in front of them in accordance with the rules of the market economy,
said:
“Of course, we are aware of the difficulties
caused by the measures we have taken to prevent the outbreak. As a state, we
strive to reduce these difficulties by using our facilities to the utmost
capability. Hopefully next year, this will be only bitter memories, having left
behind all these challenges. We know that our responsibility is heavy, but our
trust, energy, enthusiasm, will for our nation is even greater. We have brought
our country to today's level of regional and global leadership with you.
Hopefully, we will overcome our difficulties with you again and together we
will reach the goal of a great and powerful Turkey.”
Erdoğan also expressed his satisfaction at
meeting with the chamber and stock exchange presidents and wished the business
world, artisans and artisans, producers, all sectors good and abundant gains.
- Commemorative tree planted in the name of
President Erdoğan
Following the opening speeches, a plane tree
was planted in the TOBB ETU Commemorative Forest in the name of President Recep
Tayyip Erdoğan. Tree planting was carried out by TOBB ETU Rector Yusuf Sarınay.