13.03.2023 Washington / USA
The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB) President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu informed U.S. investors about the earthquake disaster in Türkiye and requested support at the meeting on “Türkiye-US Business Forum: Prioritization of the Earthquake Zone” organized by TOBB and the American Chamber of Commerce in Washington.
In addition to TOBB
President Hisarcıklıoğlu, Trade Minister Mehmet Muş, Türkiye's Ambassador to
Washington Hasan Murat Mercan, U.S. Ambassador to Ankara Jeffry Flake, U.S.
Chamber of Commerce Senior Vice President for Türkiye and the Middle East Khush
Choksy, and representatives of the business world from Türkiye and the United States
attended the forum.
In his speech at the
opening, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that the Kahramanmaraş-based earthquakes that
occurred on February 6 affected 11 provinces in the southeastern region of
Türkiye and 14 million people in these cities.
Referring to the
importance of the region for the Turkish economy as well as human losses,
Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that the region is important for both industry and
agriculture sectors.
Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu
said the region accounts for 9 percent of Türkiye's total national income, 8.5
percent of its exports and 14 percent of its agricultural production.
Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed
out that economic activity and production in the region are expected to fall by
about 50 percent, and this will have a direct negative impact on economic
growth this year.
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that nearly 200,000 companies were adversely affected by this disaster.
Hisarcıklıoğlu
explained TOBB's relief efforts for the region and thanked the U.S. Chamber of
Commerce, the business world and the government for their solidarity.
Hisarcıklıoğlu,
pointing out that they will renew the cooperation agreement between them and
the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for another year, said, “I believe that we can do
much more together.”
- Minister of Trade Muş
Trade Minister Mehmet
Muş said the Kahramanmaras-based earthquakes that occurred on February 6th
caused devastation in a vast area covering 11 provinces in Türkiye's
southeastern region, killing more than 47,000 people.
Muş said that their
priority is to carry out the relief efforts in the fastest and most effective
way and to heal the wounds, and that they have achieved this goal. Pointing out
that their next priority is to make the necessary preparations and build safe
settlement areas, Muş said that they have also carried out a comprehensive
examination to determine the impact of the disaster on businesses.
Pointing out that they
have rapidly implemented region-specific policies such as tax exemptions, state
supports, direct financial aid, Muş continued: “We are determined to compensate
for our losses as soon as possible and to return our people to their daily
lives. While we are on the road to recovery, we do not know when our trade will
reach pre-earthquake levels in these provinces, which have been heavily affected
by earthquakes both in terms of capital and labor. It will certainly have a
huge impact on our supply chains with the world, including the US, especially
in certain sectors such as yarn, textile, steel and carpet. That's why we need
to maintain and support such supply chains in both directions.”
Reminding that support
came from many countries and international organizations, especially the United
States, during these difficult times, Muş said that just hours after the
earthquakes, the U.S. government quickly mobilized and provided humanitarian
aid, and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce organized a significant amount of in-kind
and financial aid.
Muş stated that the
next stage is to rebuild the cities, adding that approximately 800,000 houses
will be built in the first stage and that they aim to rebuild the cities in a
much more modern and sustainable way.
Emphasizing the
importance of financing as well as having technical capacity in this context,
Muş reported that a donors' conference hosted by the European Union (EU) will
be held in Brussels this month.
“From a commercial
point of view, the production of reconstruction and related sectors such as
construction materials will gain momentum and these sectors will probably be
potential areas that entrepreneurs will target in the short term. It is clear
that we need not only normalize the economies of the region, but also
strengthen them. Because we need to build sustainable cities and create jobs
for that. That's why it's all the more important to have strong economic
cooperation and trade relations with our partners, including the United States,
as well as reconstruction efforts.”
- Other speakers
Khush Choksy, Senior
Vice President of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce for Türkiye and the Middle East,
reminded that approximately 200 international companies provided more than 110
million USD in kind and financial assistance after the earthquakes that
affected Türkiye and Syria.
Recalling that U.S.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken held talks with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce
regarding the support provided to Türkiye in the aftermath of the earthquakes,
Choksy said it was a critical time to establish business relations between the
U.S. and Türkiye.
Türkiye's Ambassador to
Washington Hasan Murat Mercan stated that the solidarity shown by the
international community in the aftermath of the earthquakes gave strength to
Türkiye. Mercan said that they quickly launched an aid campaign after the
earthquakes and that all Turkish missions in the United States accepted
donations to the earthquake regions.
Ambassador Mercan
reminded that thousands of relief materials were collected throughout the
United States and sent to Türkiye through Turkish Airlines.
U.S. Ambassador to
Ankara Jeffry Flake touched upon the work of U.S. search and rescue teams in
Türkiye. Flake said that the US team transferred the field hospital it
established in Hatay in 5 days to the Ministry of Health.
Flake pointed out that
the U.S. government has pledged $185 million in aid due to the earthquakes
affecting Türkiye and Syria.
Following the speeches,
a memorandum of understanding on cooperation was signed between TOBB and the
U.S. Chamber of Commerce. The memorandum of understanding aims to increase
cooperation in Türkiye-US economic, commercial, investment relations and
post-earthquake reconstruction efforts.
After the meeting, TOBB
President Hisarcıklıoğlu, Trade Minister Muş and Türkiye's Ambassador to
Washington Mercan visited the TOBB Washington office.