Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

EUROCHAMBRES Joint Members Committee Meeting started off in Belek, Antalya. The meeting was attended by EUROCHAMBRES Vice President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, EUROCHAMBRES President Alessandro Barberis, EUROCHAMBRES Vice President Pierre Gramegna, Deputy President Andrezej Arendarski and representatives of the Union Chambers of Albania, Azerbaijan, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Belarus, Georgia, Croatia, Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, the Russian Federation and Ukraine.

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Turkey is rising in the global field as a more active actor and that Turkey is the 16th among the G2 countries as well as the 6th largest economy in Europe. Hisarcıklıoğlu touched on the fact that Turkey has the strongest free market economy and private sector between Italy and China.

Hisarcıklıoğlu drew attention to the many important construction projects being implemented in the four corners of Turkey and that Turkish construction companies are listed as second only to China. Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the share of Turkish contractors in the World Bank bids has been steadily increasing.

Stating that Turkey is an important logistics base, Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that Turkey’s TIR fleet is the second largest land transportation fleet in the world. Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Additionally, Turkey, with its, cultural heritage and natural beauty is the world’s 7th largest tourism destination.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that there are 26,000 foreign companies operating in Turkey and went on, “50,000 Turkish exporters are active in global commerce. The enterprises of the last 30 years have enabled the transition from rural economy to industrial. Our per capita income has increased to $14,741 from $2,063 in1980. Our exports have increased to 130 billion dollars. The share of industry in our exports has increased from 10% to 92%.

- Turkey’s EU membership

Stating that Turkey’s largest commercial partner is Europe, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that Turkey, which has been in partnership with Europe since 1963, started the membership process in 2005.

Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Although we could be happier with the progress of the admission negotiations, 13 chapters of the negotiations have been temporarily been concluded. That leaves 22 chapters to go. The negotiations have slowed down due to reasons unrelated to Turkey’s technical capabilities. The EU admission process has facilitated Turkey’s compliance to the Copenhagen Political Criteria. They have been a reference point for Turkey.”

Expressing that the economic and social transformation started in the 80’s has gained speed in the first half of the 2000’s and moved Turkey forward, Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that the driving force behind the economic progress has been the private sector’s investments.

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that, with every step taken towards a free market economy, the Turkish private sector has become more active and successful, both domestically and globally.

- “Turkey has broken a record”

Stating that Turkey has become an important focus in the newly forming multiple-pole system, Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said that in addition to Istanbul, many cities in Anatolia have joined the transformation process and have become centers of attractive modern city life in addition to their industrial enterprises.

Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Turkey has performed impressively during the economic crisis” and went on to state that even though Turkey had suffered a setback of 4.8, in 2010, with a growth of 8.9%, has overcome the effects of the crisis in regards to growth.

Hisarcıklıoğlu also stated that, “This crisis was, in a sense, a stress-test for our institutional structure. However our governmental institutions, banks and companies have passed this test successfully. The Turkish private sector has proved that it can adapt to harsh conditions. The growth performance is still going strong in 2011. Turkey has broken a record with 11% growth in the first quarter of 2011.”

Relating that Turkey operates in the 10 trillion dollar economic volume area between Italy and China, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that this displays the increasing capacity of the Turkish business world.

Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that the base spread chamber system is an important catalyst in the private sector driven economy, reporting that TOBB serves its 1.4 million members with 365 chambers and commodity exchanges and 59 sector councils. Hisarcıklıoğlu said that TOBB makes an important contribution to the development of entrepreneurship in Turkey via the Women Entrepreneurs Council and the Young Entrepreneurs Council.

Supporting political and economic reforms domestically, TOBB also takes on an important role in the implementation of regional integration policies Hisarcıklıoğlu said, and went on, “Our goal is to bring the Turkish private sector into the spotlight. This is a matter of developing brands. As trust in the abilities of Turkish entrepreneurs increases, so will the ability for them to do business globally. The way to achieve this is to establish sustainable dialog especially in troubled areas.”

- Railway project

In this regard, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, they had brought together Palestine, Israel and Turkey business worlds in 2005, the Ankara Forum has accomplished important goals and the TOBB-BİS company established in Ramallah will advise Palestine on the establishment of an Organized Industry Zone in the Erez district and went on, “Inspired by the Ankara Forum, we have established the Istanbul Forum to bring the Afghan, Pakistani and Turkish business worlds together. We are now working on the first project of the Forum which is a railway between Istanbul and Islamabad. This project is also a part of the enterprise to revive the Silk Road by the various countries of the region. In this regard TOBB plans to utilize its experience in renovating customs gates in the Silk Road enterprise. We share our experience with other Islam countries through the Chamber Academy which hosted 22 representatives from 20 countries in the first iteration of the program.”

- Aid for Somalia

Stating that 10 million lira’s worth of resources have been delivered for the rehabilitation of the children in Somalia, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “It is evident that we as the Turkish private sector are focused on being an influential actor in the global economy. Turkey’s rising power in the region is important for Europe. By monitoring the region’s integration into the global economy, we contribute to Europe’s neighborhood policy.”

After the speech the panel, “Arabian Spring and European Neighborhood Policy” was conducted. Taking part in the panel were European Commission Europe Policy Consultants Vice Director Margaritis Schinas, Al Sharq Centre For Regional and Strategic Studies Director Mustafa El Labbad and the Turkey Economic Policy Research Foundation (TEPAV) Director Prof. Dr. Güven Sak.

The Association of European Chambers of Commerce and Industry Joint Members Committee Meeting will continue in Cappadoccia on the 8th and 9th of September.