10.06.2021 Ankara
The President of the Kyrgyz Republic, Sadyr Japarov, was presented with a Honorary Doctorate from TOBB ETU at a ceremony held at TOBB Twin Towers. After the ceremony hosted by TOBB President and TOBB ETU Board of Trustees M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Turkish-Kyrgyz Business Forum was held.
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that the decision of the university senate to offer Japarov an honorary
doctorate diploma was made, “Japarov honored us by accepting the title of
Honorary Doctorate of TOBB ETU. I was also presented with the title of Honorary
Doctorate by Manas University. I am proud to hold this title.”
Stating that Kyrgyzstan
and Turkey are two sister countries that share grief and joy together,
Hisarcıklıoğlu reminded that Turkey immediately recognized the country by
supporting Kyrgyzstan's independence.
“As Turkey's business
community, we will always support our Kyrgyz brothers and sisters,”
Hisarcıklıoğlu said, stressing that under Japarov's leadership, they believe
Kyrgyzstan is looking forward to a stronger and more prosperous future.
Stating that TOBB ETU
is one of the most preferred universities in Turkey, Hisarcıklıoğlu explained
that the joint education program implemented by the university by launching a
first in Turkey has become a model in industrial-university cooperation.
Hisarcıklıoğlu also
said that they offer young entrepreneurs intellectual and financial
opportunities to realize their ideas.
- “Turkey is among the top 4 countries investing the most
in Kyrgyzstan”
Hisarcıklıoğlu also touched
on the trade relations between the two countries and stated that around 500
Turkish-owned companies operate in various sectors in Kyrgyzstan.
Emphasizing that these
companies provide employment to more than 5,000 Kyrgyz citizens, Hisarcıklıoğlu
continued:
“Turkey is among the
top 4 countries that invest the most in Kyrgyzstan. Our contractors have
undertaken 75 projects worth $1 billion to date. With these projects, our
companies supported Kyrgyzstan’s development move. As Turkey, we are
undoubtedly proud of the investments of our companies here. I believe that we
will achieve much more successful projects in the future. Our trade volume is
now only half a billion dollars. I believe that we will increase this and reach
the set goal of $2 billion. By joining hands between the two sister countries,
we will further grow the economy of Kyrgyzstan.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that
Kyrgyzstan has serious resources for wind, solar and geothermal energy
production, especially hydro-electricity, pointing out that the country has
serious potential for industrialization in line with its mineral riches,
especially textiles.
Stating that TOBB and
Kyrgyzstan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) also have deep-rooted
relations, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We established the Turkish-Kyrgyz CCI to
expand the scope of bilateral cooperation and deepen its content. In Turkey and
Kyrgyzstan, we started to collect the problems and suggestions of the
enterprises and relay them to our governments quickly. Thus, we made
significant contributions to bilateral trade and investment relations.”
- “Turkey is among the top 6 countries in the world in
foreign contracting and in tourism”
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that they implemented the Turkic CCI, of which Kyrgyzstan is also a founding
member, with the vision of 6 states but one nation, and said that Kyrgyzstan
and Turkey and Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan business
worlds are joining forces.
Hisarcıklıoğlu
expressed support for the reform efforts of the Kyrgyz CCI and welcomed the
economic reforms that have brought the private sector to the forefront in
Kyrgyzstan.
Noting that a strong
Chamber system contributes greatly to the development of the private sector,
Hisarcıklıoğlu concluded:
“Thanks to our private
sector and entrepreneurial people, today we are among the main suppliers of
textiles and apparel, automotive, home appliances, food and many more
industrial products in Europe. We are among the top 6 countries in the world in
foreign contracting and tourism. We are ready to share our knowledge and
experience in all these areas and in the process of economic transformation
that started in the 80s with our Kyrgyz brothers and sisters.”
- President Japarov of Kyrgyzstan: “Our blood and history
are one”
Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov
thanked Hisarcıklıoğlu and TOBB ETU for their hospitality, welcome and honorary
doctorate title on behalf of the Kyrgyz people, adding that this was an
occasion of great pride.
“We wish to strengthen
cooperation between Kyrgyzstan and Turkey, and I want to state that we will
make every effort to do so,” Japarov said, noting that they cooperate with
Turkey in all areas and economic cooperation is one of them.
“Our blood and history
are one. We are Turkic-speaking peoples. I would like to state this with
particular excitement,” he said.
Japarov expressed full
belief that cooperation between the two countries will be strengthened during
the period of globalization, and said that he thinks meeting with the
executives of Turkey's leading companies gives Kyrgyz business people great
confidence.
Stressing that he
believes today's Kyrgyz-Turkish Business Forum will create new opportunities
for business people of both countries, Japarov said, “There are many Turkish
business people in Kyrgyzstan. Our door is always open to Turks. We are always
ready to accept new investors and we will give all kinds of support to Turkish
business people.”
Japarov stated that they
are interested in Turks’ investments, new technologies and new management
system for the development of his country's economy, and said that all
conditions exist in his country for the creation of the necessary conditions
for investors.
Japarov noted that they
have taken two important steps since he took office as president, which is to
protect investors and private property.
Japarov said that
investors aim to work transparently to increase confidence in his country, “On
April 11th this year, we adopted a new constitution. With the new
constitution, we have secured the activities of investors. The Ministry of
Investors was established on my orders. As president, I reassure business
people who will come to invest in our country. I invite valuable Turkish
business people to export to Kyrgyzstan and Eurasian Economic Union (EEU)
member countries with high investment potential. I am sure that Turkish
companies can use the potential of our country to export goods to the markets
of our neighboring countries. I invite Turkish business people to make full use
of Kyrgyzstan's investment potential. We invite you to Issyk-Kul Lake.”
- “I invite Turkish business people to the 10th session
of the Kyrgyz-Turkish Intergovernmental Commission”
Almambet Shykmamatov,
Minister of Investment Promotion and Protection of Kyrgyz Republic, said that
they are trying to put in place mechanisms for increasing investments in
Kyrgyzstan, “It is not enough for Turkish investors to come to Kyrgyzstan and
talk about doing everything to improve their security, reducing bureaucracy.
Therefore, I invite all Turkish business people to the 10th session
of the Kyrgyz-Turkish Intergovernmental Commission, which will take place in
Kyrgyzstan on July 9th.”
TOBB ETU Rector Prof.
Dr. Yusuf Sarınay read Kyrgyzstan President Japarov's résumé and stated that it
was unanimously accepted by the university senate to award him an honorary
doctorate in international relations.
After the speeches,
Japarov was presented with a diploma and robe. Then, to commemorate Japarov's
awarding to an honorary doctorate, tree planting was carried out in the TOBB
ETU forest via video conference.