Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Emphasizing that both countries are NATO members, Hisarcıklıoğlu noted that Türkiye and Germany have been working together on European security for many years.

Hisarcıklıoğlu explained that 80,000 Turkish entrepreneurs in Germany generate an annual turnover of 50 billion euros and provide 500,000 jobs, saying, “These contribute to Germany’s economy. Germany is Türkiye’s largest trading partner. Our bilateral trade volume has reached around $50 billion. We support the €60 billion trade target set by the presidents of both countries. I believe that with the German Chancellor’s visit to Türkiye at the end of this month, this target will be raised even higher.”

- Call for cooperation in the defense industry

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that one of Europe’s top priorities is to increase defense spending to 5 percent of Gross Domestic Product, adding that a significant portion of this funding must go toward defense technology investments.

Pointing out that Europe’s weakness in the military field has been evident in recent developments in the region, Hisarcıklıoğlu continued:

“This weakness is not only due to defense spending lagging behind Russia. Unfortunately, Europe also lags behind in terms of resources allocated to innovation in the defense industry. While innovation accounts for 14 percent of total defense spending in the US, it accounts for only 4 percent in Europe. In 2024, investment in defense technology ventures was $3.5 billion in the US and $800 million in Europe. Yet we are in a period where asymmetric threats are on the rise and the nature of warfare is changing.”

Military technologies are now more open to innovation than ever before. Europe needs to catch up with the world not only by filling its weapons stockpiles, but also with innovations that will keep pace with the changing rules of war. Defense industry is an area where Türkiye is also strong. Therefore, there is serious potential for cooperation among our companies in the defense industry. We want to cooperate with our German industrialists and business people on this issue.”

Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu also stated that new opportunities for cooperation between Turkish, German, and Syrian companies would arise during Syria’s normalization process, adding, “Chancellor Merkel had asked me for this for Türkiye, Germany, and Iraq at the time. Now, Syria presents a new opportunity. Türkiye is the country with the largest industrial production capacity among Türkiye, Italy, and China. In other words, we are an industrial giant in our region. We discussed these issues with our German ambassador in Ankara. We are fully confident that we will develop productive partnerships in this area in the coming period.”

- “As businesspeople, we oppose protectionism.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that uncertainty and protectionism in trade are increasing every day, saying, “As businesspeople in trade, we oppose protectionism. Protectionist tendencies are increasing around the world. This situation sometimes turns into trade wars. In such a period, it is very important for Türkiye and Germany, and Türkiye and the European Union, to work more closely together.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu noted that Germany has always played a decisive role in Türkiye’s European Union (EU) process and said that the Customs Union between the EU and Türkiye needs modernization more than ever.

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that a study they conducted concluded that European companies would benefit the most from the modernization of the Customs Union.

TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that politics should not take precedence over the economy.

Emphasizing that businesspeople need free movement for trade, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that visas for Turkish businesspeople should be made easier so that they can purchase German machinery.

- “Our friendship is conducive to developing economic relations”

Peter Adrian, President of the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce, also stated that the German economy is facing difficulties and that they are working to develop economic relations between Türkiye and Germany during such a period. Adrian said, “Our friendship is conducive to this. We have a lot to learn from each other.”

Meanwhile, panels focusing on digitalization, energy, mobility, restructuring, and trade opportunities will be held throughout the day at the German-Turkish Economic Conference.