01.06.2022 Ankara
Turkey-Pakistan Business Forum was held at the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) Twin Towers. Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif announced the target as 5 billion dollars in the trade volume of the two countries, while TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We think that a well-designed free trade agreement between Turkey and Pakistan, a win for both countries, will be beneficial.”
The meeting hosted by Hisarcıklıoğlu was attended by Pakistani
Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, Turkish Trade Minister Mehmet Muş, Turkish National
Defence Minister Hulusi Akar, Pakistan Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif,
Pakistan Federal Trade Minister Syed Naveed Qamar, Pakistan Federal Minister of
Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb, Pakistani Ambassador to Ankara
Mohammad Sirus Sajjad Ghazi and businesspeople.
TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu explained TOBB's work to the
Pakistani delegation. While Turkey and Pakistan are in close relations in every
field, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the trade volume between the countries does
not make anyone happy, “Our mutual trade, which does not even reach a billion
dollars, is not becoming of two brotherly countries. Our mutual investments are
similarly not at the level we want. Turkey's total direct investments in
Pakistan are around $1 billion. There are over 230 Pakistani capital companies
in Turkey. Between 2000-2020, the amount of direct investment made by Pakistani
companies in our country was around 690 million dollars.”
- We don't want protectionist policies
Stating that Turkish contracting companies have carried out
important projects in Pakistan as well as all over the world, the TOBB
President said, “71 projects amounting to approximately 3.5 billion dollars
have been successfully completed by our companies.” Hisarcıklıoğlu mentioned
that they established the Turkey-Pakistan Chamber of Commerce Forum within the
scope of our cooperation and said: “We discuss the problems experienced by our
companies here and then present them to our governments in Turkey and Pakistan.
My brother Professor Dr. Ömer Bolat and Amjad Rafi undertook this
responsibility together. In fact, despite the pandemic, they did not break the
relationship. The two kept the chamber alive and active. We complain about
protectionist policies in trade. We think that protectionism will impoverish
our people. We think a well-designed free trade agreement between Turkey and
Pakistan would be beneficial for both countries.”
Stating that their duty in terms of investments is to attract more
direct investment to the country and to make the investment environment more
attractive for investors, Hisarcıklıoğlu defined the best reference for
attracting new investors as “existing investors to be happy in the country”.
Those who still have investments in Turkey stated that if they are happy with
the legislation and practices, they will set a good example for potential
investors.
Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Therefore, my advice is to trust our
countries, invest in the future of our country, produce added value and
employment, and protect the investors who export.
I, as the president of TOBB, am the President of all investors in
Turkey, regardless of whether they are domestic or foreign. Likewise, I believe
that all our investors in Pakistan are protected by the Federation of Pakistan
Chambers of Commerce and Industry and your Excellency. We also have a problem
with visas.
We are friends, brothers. Should siblings go to each other's house
with permission? Visa application stands before us as a serious obstacle to
trade. At the very least, we need to save the business world from this visa
problem. Support us. Let's invest more. Let's trade more reciprocally.
We are one of the most important suppliers of white goods,
construction materials, cement, automotive and spare parts, shipbuilding
industry, Europe. More than 90 percent of our exports are industrial products,
and we make half of them to the countries where the competition is highest,
such as Europe and the USA.
We are achieving worldwide success in tourism and overseas
contracting. While our name was not heard in tourism 40 years ago, with the
investments and vision of our private sector, we have entered the top 10
destinations in the world today. Turkish contracting companies are among the
world's largest contractors.”
- Prime Minister of Pakistan Sharif
Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif, in his speech, stated
that the trade volume is insufficient considering the brotherly relationship
between the two countries and said, “We have everything necessary for the trade
volume between the two countries to reach the level of 5 billion dollars in
three years. When that happens, I'll be the happiest person.”
Sharif, who paid an official visit to Turkey at the invitation of
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, spoke at the working lunch organized by the
Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) at the TOBB Twin
Towers at the Turkey-Pakistan Business Forum.
Sharif pointed out that the trade volume between the two countries
is an insufficient figure of $ 1.1 billion, and continued:
“Unfortunately, the brotherly relationship between Turkey and
Pakistan is not adequately reflected in trade relations. I know that President
Erdoğan, Turkish and Pakistani businessmen are very determined to increase
trade and investments between the two countries. Economic barriers between the
two countries must be overcome. Whatever is needed in this regard must be done.”
Emphasizing that they aim to increase the trade volume between
Turkey and Pakistan to the level of 5 billion dollars within three years, Sharif
said, “We have everything necessary for this. When that happens, I'll be the
happiest person. Moving forward, I will strive to contribute to everything I
can about it.”
Stating that he sincerely apologized to the Turkish businessmen
who were mistreated in Pakistan in the past, Sharif said, “I apologize in front
of you for what happened in the past and express my sorrows. I have a hard time
finding the right word, bad or inappropriate behavior. I apologize in front of
you for whatever has been done against Turkish businessmen.”
- Minister of Trade Mehmet Muş
In his speech, Trade Minister Mehmet Muş reported that despite the
Covid-19 outbreak, Turkey's trade with Pakistan increased by 22.5 percent
compared to the previous year.
Minister Muş, stating that the trade volume between the two
countries is approaching the level of 1 billion dollars, said, “In 2021,
despite the Covid-19 outbreak, our trade with Pakistan increased by 22.5
percent compared to the previous year. During President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's
visits to Pakistan, a target of $ 5 billion was set. When we look at the first
4 months of this year, there is an increase of about 7 percent compared to the
same period of last year. This is pleasing, but we are far behind the level.”
Muş informed that the trade agreement, the negotiations, awaited
by the business world of the two countries, is nearing its end, and said that
they believe that the $ 5 billion target and then the new targets will be
exceeded with the said agreement.
- Minister of National Defense Akar
Minister of National Defense Hulusi Akar stated that Turkey's
defense industry production has reached 80 percent in the rate of national and
indigenousness and said, “Pakistan is our brothers and sisters with whom we do
a lot of work in matters such as defense. Our comrades-in-arms. We have
developed our cooperation with the studies, exercises and trainings we have
carried out in Turkey and Pakistan. Our history, culture, past and the unity
and solidarity between rights make us extremely comfortable. I want you to know
that our relations at the Prime Minister's or Presidential level are extremely
productive. With the work we have done both in Turkey and Pakistan, we have
produced very successful solutions to our common problems and needs. Under the
leadership of our President, the level we have reached as Turkey, the defense
industry products we produce nationally and domestically have approached almost
80 percent. Similarly, our Pakistani brothers have a high level of defense
industry capability. We support our Pakistani brothers on the Kashmir issue and
our Pakistani brothers support us on the Cyprus issue.”