Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

The 2^nd SME Conference was held in Doha, the capital of Qatar. Speaking at the opening of the conference, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci could not participate in the conference activity due to negotiations on the constitutional amendment proposal at the Turkish Grand National Assembly.

Hisarcıklıoğlu said that they are working with the Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry in great harmony on many platforms. He said that they are committed to further work with Qatar.

Emphasizing that the bilateral relations could be increased by signing a cooperation agreement, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that 400 businesspeople, leaders of their sectors, from Turkey and Qatar, have come together for the conference.

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that bilateral business negotiations will be held in 7 main sectors during the conference, and pointed out that this meeting will establish profitable partnerships for the future. 

Stating that Turkey passed an important test on July 15^th, Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out that Qatar was the first country to support Turkey after the Fetullah Terrorist Organization's (FETO) coup attempt. 

Hisarcıklıoğlu, who reminded Qatari leaders that in visiting Turkey following the coup, they gave the greatest support in fighting with FETO, “A Turkish proverb says, ‘Friends become apparent in dark days,’ we will never forget those who stood with us in our dark days. I would like to express my heartfelt thanks to all our Qatari friends, especially the Amir of Qatar, on behalf of the Turkish business community.”

Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that the relations between Turkey and Qatar have reached a very important point in recent years and went on:

“Do you know how many brothers and sisters came to Qatar from Turkey 15 years ago? Only 600 people per year; you did not hear falsely. Now that number is 36,000. 15 years ago our bilateral trade volume was only 15 million USD, increasing 50 times over, reaching 700 million USD. Qatar's capital invested in our country 15 years ago was only 15 million USD while it is 1 billion USD today. Turkish companies did not have a name in Qatar, our companies today have a total project volume of 14 billion USD in Qatar. Our businessmen have started to make important investments here. We will open a Turkish hospital today. These are really great numbers, very important developments but surely we are only at the beginning. We will do great work. We welcome the great investments made in our country and the opportunities offered to Turkish contractors by Qatar, and now we want to go far beyond that.”

- “Allah will call us to account”

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Turkey has become an entrepreneurial country, achieving growth through the private sector. Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We will unite our forces, we have a great deal of experience and entrepreneurial power, the biggest thing we have not got and which Qatar has is investment capital and cheap energy. Let’s bring the projects together; you have money, we have the entrepreneurial spirit. Let’s make the world accept Turkish-Qatari partnership with the Made in Qatar brand.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Allah gave a terrific geography to Islamic countries, “Despite all these possibilities, our share of the world's wealth is only 10.2% while the USA boasts 25% and China 15%. Even worse, 21 of the world’s 48 poorest countries are, unfortunately, Islamic countries. I’ll say it plainly, God will call us to account for this.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out that the Free Trade Agreement between Turkey and the Gulf Cooperation Council has been waiting for years to pass,

“If this step is taken, one of the most important tasks to strengthen trade between Turkey and Qatar will have been accomplished. We want to conclude this business immediately; we expect the same approach from the Gulf countries. The second is the TIPS-OIC We’ve only a little ways to go to put this agreement into effect, once the Gulf States update their concession lists and we expect our Qatari friends to lead the way.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu also stated that the opening of a Turkish hospital will be held in Qatar.

Sheikh Khalifa bin Casim Al-Thani, President of the Qatar Chamber of Industry and Commerce, emphasized the need to further develop relations between the two countries.

Following the speeches, Al-Thani and Hisarcıklıoğlu signed the TOBB-Qatar Chamber of Commerce and Industry Cooperation Agreement.