Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

The honorary doctorate ceremony for Turkmenistan President Gurbanguli Berdimuhammedov in the field of international relations, who is visiting Turkey on the invitation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, took place in Ankara hosted by TOBB ETU Board of Trustees and TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu.

In his speech at the ceremony, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “The President of our ancestral homeland, Turkmenistan, Gurbanguli has kindly accepted an honorary doctorate from TOBB ETU. He has greatly honored us by doing so.”

Stating that TOBB ETU is a young university of just 10 years, Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that it has been one of the most preferred universities in Turkey ever since its early days, becoming the model for industry-university cooperation. He said, “Our academic staff is comprised of individuals of the highest caliber from Turkey as well as other countries. We are among the top five in private universities. Among young universities established after 2000, we are always the first.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu provided information in regards to the TOBB ETU, “Our University is focused on entrepreneurship. In the Turkey Entrepreneurial and Innovative Universities Index, we are among the top 8. We provide intellectual and material support for young entrepreneurs to actualize their ideas. Our university pulls ahead with its research centers in the field of R&D.

In short, TOBB ETU with its programs, educational administration, close ties with the business world and innovative approach many fields such as R&D, is a university which has differentiated itself from its peers, becoming one of the most successful universities in Turkey.

To summarize the distance we’ve come in the last 10 years, from 270 students to 5,100; from 3 faculties and 10 departments to 6 faculties, 23 departments and 7 research and implementation centers; from 57 academic staff to 389; from 58,000 sq meters to 162,000 sq meters. We’ve moved on from having just one building to a complete campus with its gym, social facilities, student housing, laboratories and technology centers.”

- Praise for Turkmenistan’s development leap

Stating that they are closely following Turkmenistan’s development leap under Berdimuhammedov’s leadership, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “With you, Turkmenistan gained a vision for industrialization and became a center for attraction in Central Asia. Developing and prospering, a bright future awaits the people of Turkmenistan. We feel proud of Turkmenistan’s successes as if they were our own and take great pride in our Turkmen brothers.”

As businessmen from Turkey, it is of exceptional honor and happiness that we invest in and work together with Turkmenistan stated Hisarcıklıoğlu and said, “The total value of these projects has reached 55 billion USD. In just 2014, we took on 10.7 billion USD worth of contracts. Turkmenistan is among the top countries which the Turkish private sector takes on contracts for. I would like to thank you for their trust in Turkish construction companies. Turkish construction companies have risen to the 2nd position globally. After this, we plan for our companies to be doing business with their Turkmen partners in 3rd countries. Your support and interest in the private sectors of Turkey and Turkmenistan is the greatest incentive for us.”

- We want to develop our cooperation

TOBB ETU Board of Trustees and TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said:

“Turkmenistan is moving forward rapidly in the fields of transportation and freight, towards being an international center. To this end, the Silk Road provides us with a great opportunity. Working together, we can revitalize the historic Silk Road with a wide network of railways, carriageways and energy corridors, transforming our region into a trade hub. In order to revitalize the historic Silk Road, we must make advances in border crossings and joint documentation in addition to infrastructure.

Turkmenistan and Central Asian states have reached the Persian Gulf via the Turkmenistan-Kazakhstan-Iran Railroad project. Kars-Tbilisi-Baku International Railroad will hopefully be completed. This way, the historic Silk Road will be reborn in railways.

We are also closely following the Turkmenistan’s endeavors in the Caspian Sea as well. The International Turkmenbashi Port will be the largest in the region, one of the greatest in the world. Yesterday, Caspian separated us; thanks to you Caspian will be the sea which connects us.

Turkmenistan has achieved a success which has brought great joy to the whole Turk community. Turkmenistan will be hosting the 2017 Asian Olympics. 

A Turkish company has taken on the contract for the construction of the Olympic park. I would like to extend our gratitude to the Turkmenistan government for giving us this opportunity.

In order to strengthen the financial relations between our countries, we are strengthening the TOBB, Turkmenistan TSO and the Turkmenistan Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Union. We have learned to our great pleasure that the Turkmenistan General Assembly has passed the new Turkmenistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry law. I believe that this will increase our cooperation and open the way for more.

We want to transfer our expertise in Organized Industry Zone establishment and operation as Turkey to Turkmenistan. We want to work together with close to 10,000 members of the Turkmenistan Industrialists and Entrepreneurs Union. We are working closely with our Turkmenistan brother in the Turkish Council, the Islamic Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the ECO Commerce-Industry Chamber.

Another factor which gives depth to our cooperation is our work in the fields of education and culture. The greatest investment which we can make to our joint future is to raise our children as individuals who can read the spirit of the time, who are knowledgeable and possessed of an exalted sense of nation. To this end, we view the 8,000 youth attending school in Turkey and Turkmenistan as honorary ambassadors.

The bright future of Turkey-Turkmenistan relations will be raised on the shoulders of these youths. We would be greatly pleased to have more students from Turkmenistan at our university.”

- Cooperation of the two countries can change the fate of the region

Stating that the world is undergoing a great change, Hisarcıklıoğlu drew attention to the fact that the global economic center of gravity has shifted towards the east. “At this junction, the cooperation of Turkey and Turkmenistan can change the fate of the whole region,” said Hisarcıklıoğlu and went on, “Turkey and Turkmenistan are the leading actors of this region. Together, we can make the Turk lands the center of peace and prosperity. We can open up new horizons for the Turkish community. We see once more that we are but two countries of a single nation. Turkey and the ancestral homeland of Turkmenistan share a deep historical and cultural bond which strengthens our relations. We share roots; the foundation of our relations is strong.

Two brothers with mutual respect, love and trust in solidarity; just as Turkey and Turkmenistan share solidarity. Turkey’s success is Turkmenistan’s success. Turkmenistan’s success is Turkey’s success. Our future will be much brighter. We will continue working together for the shared, bright future of the Turkish community.”

- Turkmenistan President Gurbanguli Berdimuhammedov

Turkmenistan President Gurbanguli Berdimuhammedov thanked the TOBB University of Economy and Technology, stating that the honorary doctorate is on honor not just for him but for all Turkmenistan. Stating that the roots of the relations between the two countries are based in shared historical roots, Berdimuhammedov thanked TOBB members and Turkish entrepreneurs for the investments of Turkish businessmen in Turkmenistan.

Emphasizing the importance of the work in the field of education, Berdimuhammedov said, “The best investments are the ones made towards people, to enhance their personal abilities. We give great importance to people’s development and education, directing youth towards scientific research. Youth, study and innovate!” Stating that the cooperation between universities needs to increase, Berdimuhammedov reported that the construction of the Turkmen-Turk University in Turkmenistan is still underway.

Stating that Turkmenistan has an open door policy, Berdimuhammedov reported that the country is the world’s 4th country in terms of hydrocarbon resources. Berdimuhammedov, pointing out the importance of the energy and transportation sectors, emphasized the importance of the cooperation between Turkmenistan, Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia to this end.

Reminding that the UN suggestions for energy and transportation in regards to Turkmenistan were accepted, Berdimuhammedov stated that Turkish companies are being given priority in actualizing the projects. Stating that both countries have advanced greatly in regards to the economy in the last 10 years, Berdimuhammedov reported that the estimates for Turkmenistan’s growth for 2015 point to over 10%.

- Signatures for cooperation

Following the honorary doctorate ceremony, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and the Turkmenistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Döwran Orazmyradow and the Turkmenistan Entrepreneurs and Industrialists Union Chairman Aleksandr Dadaev signed a cooperation agreement.