25.04.2024 Ankara
Speaking at the Türkiye-Kazakhstan Business Forum, M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, President of the Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB), stated that the world is undergoing a great change and said, “The center of gravity of the global economy is shifting from the west to the east. In such an environment, the cooperation between Türkiye and Kazakhstan will change the fate of the whole region.”
The Türkiye-Kazakhstan
Business Forum was hosted by TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu in
cooperation with TOBB and Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK) at TOBB Twin
Towers with the participation of Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, Prime Minister
of Kazakhstan Olzhas Bektenov, Chairman of Kazakh Invest Yerzhan Yelekeyev,
Chairman of DEİK Nail Olpak and many other guests.
Pointing out that
Kazakhstan is the shining star and heart of the region and that they approach
the relations between the two countries with the understanding of “one nation,
two states”, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that Kazakhstan's strength, wealth and
prestige in the international arena have always made them proud.
Hisarcıklıoğlu said
that Kazakhstan started to build the future of the country on strong
foundations from the moment it gained its independence.
- “The idea of a Turkish Investment Desk will be
encouraging”
Stating that as the
Turkish business world, they will continue to support more investments in
Kazakhstan, “the ancestral homeland”, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that the idea of a
“Turkish Investment Desk” would be encouraging in this sense.
- “We continue our efforts to activate the East-West
Central Corridor”
Pointing out that
serious opportunities have emerged for better utilization of energy resources
in Kazakhstan after the Russia-Ukraine war, Hisarcıklıoğlu said:
“The number of transit
documents for bilateral and transit transportation between Türkiye and
Kazakhstan should definitely be increased to a level that will meet the needs.
We request that the number of transit documents, which is currently 10,000, be
increased to 15,000. The duration of the drivers' visa-free stay in Kazakhstan,
which is currently 30 days, should be extended. In Türkiye, this period is 60
days for Kazakh drivers. It seems useful to apply the reciprocity principle. We
should also pay special attention to the development of transportation networks
between our countries.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu said
that they continue their efforts to activate the Caspian trans-Caspian
“East-West Central Corridor” and that cooperation should be strengthened to
remove obstacles to transportation and trade, enrich transportation networks
and facilitate border crossings.
- “We ranked number 2 in companies established in Kazakhstan”
Pointing out that Aktau
and Kurik ports have gained great importance in transportation from China to
Europe, Hisarcıklıoğlu used the following expressions:
“The annual capacity of
21 million tons in these two ports should be increased to 30 million tons in
the first phase. It would be useful to address this issue with a strategic
approach. Because these ports in the Caspian Sea are vital for the Central
Corridor. We are in the ideal period to carry our relations further. Last year,
our trade volume amounted to 10 billion dollars. With a more balanced trade, we
can take this figure much higher. Kazakh authorities are working very well in
attracting investment. In non-energy investments, Türkiye has provided
Kazakhstan with direct investments amounting to 5 billion dollars. Almost every
week we receive investment news of one of our companies. We also ranked number
2 in the ranking of established companies. We have nearly 5,000 established
companies in Kazakhstan.”
Stating that one of the
important issues in trade is customs crossings, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “In our
region, land customs gates are of great importance. As TOBB, we have great
experience and success in renovating and operating customs gates. Modernization
of customs crossings in Turkic states should be among the priority projects of
the Turkic Investment Fund.”
- “We should not be subject to any licenses when we buy and
sell with each other”
Hisarcıklıoğlu, who
proposed the establishment of a customs union within the Organization of Turkic
States, said, “We are brothers. We should not be subject to any permission when
buying and selling with each other. That place is ours and this place is ours.
We have no separation. We, as the Turkic Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
continue our work with this vision.”
Explaining that the
world is undergoing a great change, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “The center of gravity
of the global economy is shifting from west to east. In such an environment,
the cooperation between Türkiye and Kazakhstan will change the fate of the
whole region. Because Türkiye and Kazakhstan are the leading actors of this
region. Together, we can make the Turkic geography a center of peace and
prosperity.”
- Kazakhstan Prime Minister Bektenov
In his speech, Prime
Minister of Kazakhstan Oljas Bektenov stated that his government is ready to be
a reliable and long-term partner of Turkish trade and said, “I invite Turkish
investors to establish our sustainable business relations by using the existing
opportunities in Kazakhstan.”
“70 major investment projects
in mining, metallurgical plant, food industry, pharmaceuticals and other fields
with a total value of about 2.8 billion dollars have been successfully
completed. Nearly 100 projects with a total cost of 3.8 billion dollars are
being implemented.”
Pointing out that there
are the necessary resources and opportunities for further development of
partnership with Türkiye, Bektenov said, “The Kazakh-Turkish Business Council
is working and the Turan International Special Economic Zone was opened in
Turkistan, the spiritual capital of the Turkic world. We all know that a joint
Turkic investment fund has been established within the Organization of Turkic
States.”
- Call for investment in Kazakhstan
Bektenov emphasized
that his country offers many areas such as tax advantages, customs duty
exemption and incentives for investors and said, “Apart from this, I would like
to underline that there are mechanisms such as state-supported financing, loan
guarantees, infrastructure provision during the implementation of large
projects.”
Explaining that the
fields of metallurgy and mining, mechanical engineering, infrastructure
projects, health and pharmaceutical sector, agro-industrial services, tourism,
defense industry, renewable energy sources, digitalization, innovative
technology are promising for Turkish investors, Bektenov said, “At the same
time, Kazakhstan's great transit and logistics potential provides a good
opportunity to enter the markets of China, Eurasian Union, Europe, Central Asia
and the Middle East. Therefore, we would like to open new areas for the
development of comprehensive relations. I invite all Turkish brothers and
sisters to invest in Kazakhstan, the homeland of Turks.”
Calling on Turkish
investors, Bektenov concluded his words with:
“The government of
Kazakhstan is ready to become a reliable and long-term partner of Turkish
trade. We are ready to provide investors with the necessary resources,
infrastructure and support the export of products. In this regard, I invite
Turkish investors to use the existing opportunities in Kazakhstan to establish
sustainable business relations.”
- Vice President Yılmaz
In his speech at the
meeting, Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz said, “Last year, our exports reached a
record high of 256 billion dollars. Our target this year is to reach 267
billion dollars, and our 2026 target is to exhibit an export performance
exceeding 300 billion dollars.”
Stating that the
Turkish economy overcame adversities despite global and regional challenges,
Yılmaz said that last year, the Turkish economy exceeded the $1 trillion
threshold for the first time and the Gross Domestic Product reached $1.1
trillion.
Pointing out that the
national income per capita in Türkiye has exceeded 13 thousand dollars, Yılmaz
pointed out that when the national income of Kazakhstan and the national income
of Türkiye are added together, it reaches 1.4 trillion dollars. Yılmaz noted
that this would not be enough, and that the two brotherly countries would
continue to grow and expand their economic relations in the coming period.
Stating that growth
exceeded the target within the framework of the Medium Term Program last year,
with a growth rate of 4.5 percent, Yılmaz said that growth has continued
uninterruptedly for 14 quarters.
Yılmaz emphasized that
in terms of growth performance, Türkiye ranks second among European Union
countries and OECD countries in 2023.
Yılmaz said, “We also
wish to cooperate in the best possible exploitation of the hydrocarbon
potential of Kazakhstan, which is one of the leading countries in Central Asia
in terms of oil and natural gas resources. I believe that you will carry out
the necessary work within the scope of the signatures and expand the
cooperation agreements.”
Yılmaz stated that
among the exemplary sister signatures within the scope of the Business Forum
were the cooperation agreement and memorandum of understanding between
Kazakhstan Development Bank-Yildirim Group, Jambyl Governorate Governorship-
Ardent Plastik, Jambyl Governorate Governorship- Seed Industrialists and Producers
Sub-union (TSÜAB), Jambyl Governorate Governorship-Kazakh Turkish Businessmen
Association (TUKIB), КazAzot-Midgulf International Ltd. and Zerde
Keramika-Fatinoğlu Holding.
Vice President Yılmaz
wished that the Türkiye-Kazakhstan Business Forum, which was organized with a
wide participation of representatives from different sectors of the business
world, would be instrumental in strengthening the cooperation between the
countries, creating new opportunities and increasing mutual investments.
DEIK President Nail
Olpak also said that they talked about how to provide more of the mutually
needed products.
Olpak noted that areas
such as logistics, agriculture, digital transformation, mining and tourism
offer important opportunities between the two countries.
- Türkiye - Kazakhstan Round Table
Türkiye - Kazakhstan
Round Table meeting was held before the Business Forum. The meeting was
attended by Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, Deputy Minister of Trade Mustafa
Tuzcu, Deputy Minister of Transport Enver İskurt, Prime Minister of Kazakhstan
Olzhas Bektenov, Deputy Prime Minister of Kazakhstan Galymzhan Koishybayev,
Minister of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan Arman Shakkalıyev, Minister of
Transport of Kazakhstan Marat Karabayev, President of the Union of Chambers and
Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB) M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, President of
DEIK Nail Olpak, Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Ankara Yerkebulan Sapıyev and
business people. At the meeting, the opinions and suggestions of the business
world were listened to.
After the speeches, a commemorative
photo was taken.