24.06.2021 Ankara
The Turkey-Tatarstan Business Roundtable was hosted by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and attended by the Republic of Tatarstan President Rustam Minnihanov.
Speaking at the opening
of the meeting, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they attach
importance to the development of relations between Turkey and the Russian
Federation, “Bilateral economic and trade relations should be the driving force
of our relations with the Russian Federation. Russia is one of Turkey's most
important foreign trading partners. Our business people have been active in the
Russian Federation for a long time. They also established successful
partnerships. As a result, despite the Covid-19 pandemic that shook the world,
our trade volume with Russia was 22 billion dollars in 2020.”
Noting that their main
goal is to reach 100 billion dollars in the trade volume of the two countries,
Hisarcıklıoğlu said that cooperation in the fields of trade, energy,
contracting, investment and tourism will help achieve this goal.
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that Turkey is the most preferred holiday destination of Russian citizens
before the restrictions imposed by the Covid outbreak, and with the start of
flights this week, they will continue to welcome many guests from Russia.
- “Bilateral relations with Tatarstan are based on strong
history and economic history”
Emphasizing that the
expansion of cooperation between Turkey and Russia also contributes greatly to
the development of relations with Tatarstan, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “The Republic
of Tatarstan is one of the most economically developed, richest and prosperous
regions of the Russian Federation. Kazan is a very exceptional city with
richness, culture and science. Kazan University is one of the 3 oldest
universities in Russia with a long history of more than 200 years. Many famous
names, such as Tolstoy and Lenin, graduated here or studied here. On the other
hand, in the establishment and development of the Republic of Turkey, there are
many important names of Tatarstan origin such as Yusuf Akçura, Sadri Maksudi,
İsmail Gaspıralı. In addition, Turkey's most important historians are of Tatar
origin such as İlber Ortaylı and Kemal Karpat. The famous Tatar Poet Gabdulla
Tukay is well known and loved in Turkey. In his memory, there is a street and
park in both Istanbul and Ankara where his statue and name are given in the
city center. In fact, at the opening of the one in Istanbul, in 2012, the
President honored us with his presence.”
Reminding that Kazan
and Istanbul were declared sister cities, TOBB President said that bilateral
relations with Tatarstan are based on strong history and economic partnership.
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that they want to cooperate more with Tatarstan. “Tatarstan is an important
center of investment for our companies. After Moscow, the Republic of Tatarstan
is the region in Russia where Turkish companies invest and trade the most.
Total Turkish investments are around $2.5 billion. Among the foreign-owned
companies operating in Tatarstan, Turkish companies are at the forefront. This
gives us pride and happiness.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that 2085 projects were successfully realized by Turkish contracting firms in
Russia totaling $84 billion as of the end of May 2021, and that $2.5 billion of
these projects were in Tatarstan. In the coming period, we are willing to carry
out new projects with local partners. In other words, we want to increase the
volume of trade and investment even more.”
- “There is the opportunity to trade and invest in all
areas between Turkey and Tatarstan”
Explaining that Turkey
is the largest producer of commercial vehicles, white goods, textiles and
agricultural products in Europe, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Despite the Covid
pandemic, Turkey's economy grew by 1.8% last year and by 7% in the first
quarter this year. Our exports increased by 38 percent to 85 Billion dollars in
the first 5 months of this year. In 2020, our biggest exporter is the
automotive sector with $25 billion in exports. 80% of the cars produced in
Turkey and 70% of the white goods are exported to Europe. In foreign
contracting, 44 of the world's top 250 companies originate from Turkey. We are
among the top 10 destinations in the world in Tourism. We are also growing
rapidly in health tourism. In 2020, 1.3 million foreign patients chose Turkey
to receive health care. Rehabilitation and thermal health tourism have great
development potential. We hope that more Russian citizens will benefit from
these opportunities.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that there is an opportunity to trade and invest in all areas between Turkey
and Tatarstan, “We think that large companies, especially those operating in
the energy, petrochemical and automotive sectors, can benefit from investment
opportunities in Turkey. We are also aware of the importance you attach to the
halal market. In this context, we can carry out joint projects in the field of
halal food. Our other possible area of cooperation is electronic commerce.
Russia is one of the fastest growing e-commerce countries in the world. Turkey,
on the other hand, is an experienced and reliable partner in e-exports. The
delivery of our Turkish brands to the Russian market through e-commerce will
positively affect our bilateral trade. In short, we are ready to cooperate with
you in all areas.”
- President Minnihanov
Commenting on the
bilateral economic relations of Tatarstan, Tatarstan President Rustam
Minnihanov said, “Today, the cooperation agreement between Tatarstan and Turkey
is in operation and the consulate general of the Republic of Turkey is
successfully acting in Kazan. Kazan has sister city relations with cities in
Turkey with Istanbul, Ankara, Antalya and Eskişehir. The Republic of Tatarstan
is one of the most important economic partners of the Republic of Turkey."
Following the opening
speeches, Albert Karimov, Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Tatarstan,
Minister of Industry and Trade, presented the Economy and Investment
Opportunities of Tatarstan.
At the end of the
meeting, under the testimony of TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu and Tatarstan
President Minnihanov, an agreement on cooperation in the development of
renewable energy sources and confidentiality agreement was signed between the
Ministry of Industry and Trade of the Republic of Tatarstan and Güriş
Construction and Engineering Inc.