20.01.2021 Ankara
Speaking at the 1st Asian Cooperation Dialogue Member Countries Chambers of Commerce and Industry Conference, M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), stated that they defend open and fair trade in the rule-based global system and said, “Turkey connects Asia and Europe and is a bridge between East and West. Our country wants to further develop its relations with Asia in many dimensions,” he said.
Organized by TOBB and hosted
by TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, the 1st Asia Cooperation
Dialogue Member Countries Chambers of Commerce and Industry Conference was held
online with the participation of Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan, Presidential
Investment Office Vice President Ahmet İhsan Erdem.
At the opening of the conference,
Hisarcıklıoğlu said that they defend open and fair trade in the rule-based
global system and promote a transparent and predictable business environment.
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that everyone needs more cooperation, dialogue and solidarity, stressing the
importance of international cooperation.
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that the Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) is a unique platform in this respect,
“ACD spans 35 countries in the Asian geography. We all know that Asia has
become a manufacturing center, power has shifted from West to East. This part
of the world represents the future of the world economy.”
- “We want to improve our relations with Asia”
Emphasizing that
Turkey is well connected with Western institutions, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Turkey
also connects Asia and Europe and is a bridge between East and West. Our
country wants to further develop its relations with Asia in many dimensions.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that Turkey, an industrial center in its region, is one of the most important
parts of the European Union (EU) supply chain thanks to its geographical proximity
and logistical advantages with the Customs Union.
- “The number of foreign companies reached 74,000 last
year”
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that Turkey is one of the main suppliers of Europe in many sectors such as
automobiles, home appliances, textiles and construction materials.
Stating that Turkey is
among the top 6 tourism destinations in the world, Hisarcıklıoğlu noted:
“Its convenient
location has ensured that Turkey benefits from important export opportunities
with diversified markets and products. The number of foreign companies in the
country reached 74,000 last year. We also want to explore areas to improve
connectivity, discuss ways to expand trade, and see how we can fill the gap in
Asian cooperation.”
- Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan
Trade Minister Ruhsar
Pekcan said here that Turkey, as the Current President of the Asia Cooperation
Dialogue (ACD), is ready to contribute and lead in every possible way to
support common goals, adding, “The 21st century will be the century
of Asia. We will act together to implement the potentials of our region and
make new breakthroughs,” he said.
Pekcan said in his
speech that the whole world is going through extraordinary times due to the pandemic
and that it has had serious negative effects on the economic and social
structures of countries.
Noting that business
activity has slowed significantly, Pekcan said they believe the need for close
cooperation between countries has become even more important under such
difficult circumstances.
Pekcan underlined that
as normalization steps increase, it is necessary to focus on how economies and
businesses will recover, noting that in this sense, they value the Asian
Cooperation Dialogue very much and will be open to any initiatives to be
developed within this mechanism.
Pekcan said that as
the Turkish government, they are focused on strengthening the national health
system, keeping the business environment alive, and rapidly supporting citizens
and business in new conditions since the beginning of the pandemic, adding, “In
the near future, Turkey will make all efforts to play an even more important
role in global value chains. We will pursue more investments in technology and
innovation-oriented sectors. We are open to strategic dialogue and partnership
in terms of global supply and value chains.”
- Presidential Investment Office Vice President Ahmet İhsan
Erdem
Presidential
Investment Office Vice President Ahmet İhsan Erdem said Turkey has a solid
growing economy.
Noting that the
financial sector is full of opportunities, Erdem reported that Istanbul is a
regional center.
Erdem pointed out that
Turkey has a competitive advantage in its region and stated that this advantage
is reflected directly in the investment figures.
Erdem reminded that
the country had a direct investment volume of $15 billion in the 30 years
before 2002, adding that the number increased to $217 billion in the 17 years
after 2002.