Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Hisarcıklıoğlu expressed satisfaction with the “2021 Economic and Financial Co-operation Agreement between Turkey and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus,” signed earlier this week.

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that as TOBB, they see Northern Cyprus as their pupil, and that they have been working with their partners in Cyprus for a long time and that they can group their work into four main headings.

Hisarcıklıoğlu stressed that the economy of Northern Cyprus should be able to stand on its own two feet. “For this, it needs a strong private sector. We have been working with the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce and the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry for a long time to develop the private sector. The Turkey-TRNC Chamber of Commerce Forum, established with the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, works to improve bilateral trade and investment relations. Even in the conditions of the pandemic, it continued work successfully. On the development of bilateral trade and investment opportunities, a detailed report was prepared by TEPAV.”

Stating that Northern Cyprus has to be the best in the world as an investment environment, Hisarciklıoğlu said: “Currently, it is very successful in the field of education and tourism. With the water supply project from Turkey, Northern Cyprus will soon become an important production base in agriculture. We have been working with the President and Governments of Northern Cyprus on improving the investment environment since 2011. The Investment Advisory Council established in Northern Cyprus will be able to further improve the investment environment in Northern Cyprus by taking bolder decisions for the investment environment.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu explained that the third issue was discussed with his counterparts for the establishment of a Joint Consultative Committee, where economic and social actors meet in Turkey, model in Northern Cyprus. A joint consultative committee was established in Northern Cyprus last year. This structure performs a very important function in ensuring the contribution of economic and social circles to economic and social transformation efforts.”

Emphasizing that they are working to support Northern Cyprus' efforts to integrate with the world, Hisarciklıoğlu said, “As TOBB, we keep the unfair embargoes imposed on Northern Cyprus on our agenda in every international environment in which we are involved. On platforms such as the Islamic Chamber and EUROCHAMBRES, we are working to represent Northern Cyprus. In the past, we have made efforts in the business delegation in Moscow to bring Northern Cyprus to the forefront of the Formula One competition held in Istanbul. By establishing the Nicosia Economic Forum, we conveyed the support of the business community to the political process in Cyprus. In addition to TOBB, the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce, the Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Industry, the Cyprus Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Hellenic Chambers Union attended this forum. We talked about concrete issues. In short, we consider the process of economic development of Northern Cyprus in a multidimensional way. We will continue to contribute.”