Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Organized by TOBB and hosted by TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, the 1^st Asia Cooperation Dialogue Member Countries Chambers of Commerce and Industry Conference was held online with the participation of Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan, Presidential Investment Office Vice President Ahmet İhsan Erdem.

At the opening of the conference, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that they defend open and fair trade in the rule-based global system and promote a transparent and predictable business environment.

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that everyone needs more cooperation, dialogue and solidarity, stressing the importance of international cooperation.

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the Asian Cooperation Dialogue (ACD) is a unique platform in this respect, “ACD spans 35 countries in the Asian geography. We all know that Asia has become a manufacturing center, power has shifted from West to East. This part of the world represents the future of the world economy.”

- “We want to improve our relations with Asia”

Emphasizing that Turkey is well connected with Western institutions, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Turkey also connects Asia and Europe and is a bridge between East and West. Our country wants to further develop its relations with Asia in many dimensions.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Turkey, an industrial center in its region, is one of the most important parts of the European Union (EU) supply chain thanks to its geographical proximity and logistical advantages with the Customs Union.

- “The number of foreign companies reached 74,000 last year”

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Turkey is one of the main suppliers of Europe in many sectors such as automobiles, home appliances, textiles and construction materials.

Stating that Turkey is among the top 6 tourism destinations in the world, Hisarcıklıoğlu noted:

“Its convenient location has ensured that Turkey benefits from important export opportunities with diversified markets and products. The number of foreign companies in the country reached 74,000 last year. We also want to explore areas to improve connectivity, discuss ways to expand trade, and see how we can fill the gap in Asian cooperation.”

- Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan

Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan said here that Turkey, as the Current President of the Asia Cooperation Dialogue (ACD), is ready to contribute and lead in every possible way to support common goals, adding, “The 21^st century will be the century of Asia. We will act together to implement the potentials of our region and make new breakthroughs,” he said.

Pekcan said in his speech that the whole world is going through extraordinary times due to the pandemic and that it has had serious negative effects on the economic and social structures of countries.

Noting that business activity has slowed significantly, Pekcan said they believe the need for close cooperation between countries has become even more important under such difficult circumstances.

Pekcan underlined that as normalization steps increase, it is necessary to focus on how economies and businesses will recover, noting that in this sense, they value the Asian Cooperation Dialogue very much and will be open to any initiatives to be developed within this mechanism.

Pekcan said that as the Turkish government, they are focused on strengthening the national health system, keeping the business environment alive, and rapidly supporting citizens and business in new conditions since the beginning of the pandemic, adding, “In the near future, Turkey will make all efforts to play an even more important role in global value chains. We will pursue more investments in technology and innovation-oriented sectors. We are open to strategic dialogue and partnership in terms of global supply and value chains.”

- Presidential Investment Office Vice President Ahmet İhsan Erdem

Presidential Investment Office Vice President Ahmet İhsan Erdem said Turkey has a solid growing economy.

Noting that the financial sector is full of opportunities, Erdem reported that Istanbul is a regional center.

Erdem pointed out that Turkey has a competitive advantage in its region and stated that this advantage is reflected directly in the investment figures.

Erdem reminded that the country had a direct investment volume of $15 billion in the 30 years before 2002, adding that the number increased to $217 billion in the 17 years after 2002.