In his opening speech, at the TOBB (Turkish Union of Chambers and Commodiy Exchanges) Turkey's economy convention organized at TOBB Twin Towers with the participation of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and some ministers, Turkey Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) President Rifat Hisarcýklýoðlu said '' “A bold and groundbreaking new structural reform move initiated under your leadership will highlight us in global competition. At this point, I would like to emphasize the following. "It will be very beneficial to establish public-private sector dialogue mechanisms and strengthen the consultation, which we have always emphasized, in the reforms to be made in the legislation, as in the past."
Turkey's Council of Economics organized at TOBB Twin Towers Conference Hall via video conference. The council hosted by TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcýklýoðlu was attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoðan, Vice President Fuat Oktay, Minister of Treasury and Finance Lütfi Elvan, Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Bekir Pakdemirli, Minister of Trade Ruhsar Pekcan, Minister of Culture and Tourism Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Minister of Industry and Technology Mustafa Varank, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Adil Karaismailoðlu and TOBB Board Members.
In his speech, TOBB President M.Rifat Hisarcýklýoðlu reminded that they launched the Economic Councils in 2003 upon the instruction of President Erdoðan and said ''You have always been with us ever since. You gave auspicious news in this hall. You know, this year we could not hold a General Assembly due to the pandemic. But thank you, welcome to the heart of the Turkish business world to listen to our problems and to consult on solutions.”
All of them spent a lot of time during the pandemic process. They assessed the problems of provinces and districts and prepared suggestions accordingly. They identified the economic difficulties experienced locally, consulted with their members until midnight and forwarded the demands to us. Also, we reported the urgent needs to our ministers regardless of the time and did great work from head to tail. I am proud of our community. I would like to thank all of them individually.”
Hisarcýklýoðlu stated that they gathered all the problems and suggestions for the Council and classified them on the basis of provinces and of ministries.
“It is very valuable for us in terms of both operating the wheels of the bureaucracy and seeing that we are not alone in the struggle we are waging. We believe that you will bring solutions to the issues that we are to raise on the agenda today, as you did in the past” stated Hisarcýklýoðlu.
Reminding that they experienced many examples of this in a few months, Hisarcýklýoðlu said, “You have reduced the employment burden on our companies, especially with regards to the short work allowance. You have introduced tax cuts to support the Internal Market. You doubled the warranty capacity of the Credit Guarantee Fund. You have offered low-cost loans to our businesses through public banks. Again, on this occasion, I would like to thank our dear Ministers for all these actions. Whenever we call, they are always on their duties. They work even at midnight, they are with us whenever we need and solve our problems. On this occasion, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to you and to all our ministers individually for your efforts on behalf of the community and the Turkish private sector.
Hisarcýklýoðlu said that the whole world is on the eve of a new era, and that they should be ready for this new era in all aspects.
Hisarcýklýoðlu pointing out that the positive news from the vaccine studies indicate that a recovery period may begin in the second half of 2021 underlined that "Global value chains will be shortened, which will increase demand for investment and business in Turkey. New opportunities will arise for our country. We see and hear this through our contacts abroad. To seize these opportunities, we now need to act and prepare. Because luck comes to those that are ready. There is no compensation for opportunities. Yes, we overcame critical bends. But we have a long and difficult journey ahead of us. In addition, new balances are being established in the world. 15 countries of the Asia-Pacific region have signed the world's largest free trade agreement, covering 30 percent of the global economy. On the other hand, although the vaccine is available, it will take time to be approved and become widespread. Therefore, we should design a program that will ensure that we are ready for the post-epidemic period and will give confidence to investors. I find the statements you made starting from your last group meeting very valuable in this respect. A positive environment was created with the statements you gave. Morales rose. The messages that the institutional structure and legal system would be strengthened and reforms would be accelerated were received very positively in the business world. It is also important to explain that Turkish Lira will be supported with investor-friendly, transparent and predictable policies.
Again, as you particularly emphasized, Turkey will be able to recapture the brisk growth with price stability, financial stability and macroeconomic stability. Because the business world wants to see the future, to be able to calculate looking forward. The precondition for increasing investments, production and employment is stability, trust and reduction of uncertainties about the future. The way to do this is price stability. Combating inflation requires stability in exchange rates. An environment where prices and exchange rates constantly increase, decreases the appetite for doing business and negatively affects production and investment decisions. Therefore, it is also important to ensure stability in exchange rates. Again, the dialogue you have established with the leaders of the EU Institutions at the highest level, is extremely important for supporting the economy and for the future of EU-Turkey relations. In this context, despite some EU leaders that lack vision, we see great benefits in keeping the relations with the EU strong, updating the customs union and returning to a positive agenda in relations, including visa dialogue ”.
Stating that a new bold and and groundbreaking structural reform move to be launched under the leadership of President Erdogan will drive Turkey forward said ''At this point, I would like to emphasize the following: ''It will be very beneficial to establish public-private sector dialogue mechanisms and strengthen the consultation, which we have always emphasized, in the reforms to be made regarding legislation, as in the past. The fact that the private sector's opinion is not taken in time in the prepared law proposals causes many problems. We are ready to run, work, produce. This wheel won't stay on this bump. By God's permit, we will overcome all these and continue on our way. With concurrence, we will bring Turkey back to the accelerated growth process. We will continue to produce and work to make our country stronger, richer and more prosperous.''
- President Erdoðan
President Recep Tayyip Erdoðan expressed his pleasure in meeting with participants, albeit via video conference.
“’There is an invisible path from heart to heart; it goes from heart to heart,’ As the poet said, so there is a path from us to you.” Erdoðan quoted and went on:
“We were not placed here, we did not come here under guardianship, we did not inherit it from our father, we did not come through the aristocratic canals. We came here by climbing the stairs of life one by one, as one with all segments of our nation, by personally experiencing the difficulties and possibilities The rumors of those who do not have a job, production or employment experience other than the salary they received from the state throughout their life, do not have a meaning beyond the rattle of tin. It is not possible to explain the economy to someone who does not yet know what the Cyprus issue is and what the opening of Maraþ means, and who does not understand the diplomatic message of the image given by a delegation headed by Turkey's President.”
Moreover, the President of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus invites them and they do not accept this invitation. I went there and then they started to criticize me with 'why didn't he take us with him'. Such things will get you nowhere. First and foremost, have you got a love called Northern Cyprus? Secondly, do you have such an understanding and a thesis to defend the opening of the 'Kapalý Maraþ' region? No you do not. Didn't they do the same things in Azerbaijan, did they not do the same things in Syria, did they not do the same things in Libya? They did and now are now talking about such things. It is really ridiculous that those who do not have any right and wrong opinions and dreams of their own, those who do not have an acquis other than triggering the scenarios written from outside and inside to make judgments about the economy. If we see a little sincerity, we will sit and talk with them in a very different way, like everyone else. But, as required by our promise and respect to our nation, we have no business with project personalities, project staff, project politics, especially politicians who do not blush even though their lies and slanders are put before them. "
Emphasizing that, as they always say, their addressees are the nation, Erdogan said, "All segments coming out of our nation's bosom, is our business world with. Like every issue, economy, industry, and trade are also a work of heart, a work of devotion. As a politician sharing a tradal background, I have always stood by our entrepreneurs, industrialists, tradesmen and craftsmen.
Erdoðan emphasized that they attach great importance to attending the General Assemblies, council meetings and various events of Turkey Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges and said ''. When I called for brave fellows for the domestic automobile, which is our country's century-old dream, you came out and applied for the job. In the presence of our nation, you carried Turkey's Automobile project into effect step by step. I hope we will bring this beautiful project to a conclusion with you. Likewise, we made Yassýada (InTurkish: Yassý Island), whose name was brought to the Mourning Island (In Turkish: Yaslý Ada) island due to the painful memory of the martyred Prime Minister Adnan Menderes, into an island of democracy and freedom with you. President Erdoðan stated that this year, due to the coronavirus epidemic, they had a different period with the business world, as in every other issue and reminded that Turkey Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges postponed this year's General Assembly.
Erdoðan underlined that they want to meet with the business world, albeit through video conferencing, because of this situation, “First of all, many of my friends watching us who are currently sick with Covid-19, I wish them all rapid recovery. May Allah grant you and all your colleagues relief as soon as possible.”
- “It's obvious what high interest costs”
Stating that they believe that Chamber and commodity exchange representatives operating at the heart of the economy in 81 provinces and 160 districts reflect the pulse of the business world the best, President Erdoðan said:
“In the meantime, especially because of the high interest production, trade, exports, employment representatives, you as interpreters you shed light on what is happening in the field for the decision-makers. Because it's obvious what high interest costs. Can we really invest with high interest rates? You are in this business. Can we produce employment? It's not possible. Can we produce? That's not possible either. Can we take serious steps towards exports? That's not possible either. So we need to be much more careful at this point and not crush our investor under high interest rates. For this, we give special importance to consult with our business world and their representatives on everything related to the economy. In all the decisions we make, we take advantage of the common mind that we have created with you in all the steps we have taken. We talk with you, discuss and develop solutions to the problems, demands and expectations of our sectors and cities.”
Erdoðan emphasized that 365 chambers and commodity exchanges serve as locomotives in Turkey's journey to democracy and development, which has come a long way in the last 18 years, “In addition to giving its members the most advanced services required by the age, each room and stock exchange made a very important contribution to the Turkish economy. When I sat down and talked to a lot of industrialists, a lot of our businessmen, they all told me how it went down, how it ended, and they always said, what was that? 'He sunk me interest, he finished me interest, I paid so much interest, I pay so much interest' is there any persecution of people who say that. Hopefully, we will reverse them, and from now on we will continue to walk towards our goals by overcoming the obstacles that have been overcome by your persuasion, diligence, persuasion and ability.”
Erdoðan said that they have implemented a large number of support packages that are free of interest, from employment to financing, especially cash flow to incentives, and that the largest loan packages, Credit Guarantee Fund bails and employment incentives implemented so far were also initiated during this period.
Erdoðan said that they postponed taxes and premiums for 6 months in dozens of sectors adversely affected by the pandemic and reminded them that they have brought long-term restructuring to accumulated public receivables, and that the law on this has been passed in Parliament.
“Now we have a new era ahead of us. We now need to focus much more strongly on manufacturing, investment, employment and exports. Together, we will leave this troubled period behind just like the previous one and hopefully reach the goal of a great and powerful Turkey. I ask you to increase your efforts and strengthen your will without ever forgetting that your President and government stands by our companies and producers.”
Pointing out that Turkey has left behind 18 years of reforms and sustainable growth at the center of its policies, Erdoðan said that with the understanding of all-out development, they have carried out services that touch every household and person in all 81 provinces.
Erdoðan expressed that, with the understanding of market economy, they have strengthened Turkey with transparent and predictable policies based on competition.
“As we do today, we have given special importance to being in consultation with all walks of life. The biggest democracy and development move in Turkey's history began in our era. We increased our national income from $236 billion to $950 billion and our exports from $36 billion to $152 billion. By raising our national income per capita to $12,500, we raised our country to the group of upper-middle-income countries. Direct investments in our country reached $138 billion. We cut the inflation rate from 32 percent to 4 percent and brought interest rates to the lowest levels in history. As we rise confidently towards our 2023 goals as a country and nation, we suddenly encountered a huge wave of attacks inside and outside. We have overcome all these attacks, starting with the events of the Gezi Park and extending to the encircling of our borders, from the coup attempt to the traps set for our economy. While we concentrated our fight for the future with all our strength, we did not neglect the investments and the economy. Even during this period of historical struggle, we have implemented hundreds of large projects.”
- “We have achieved many things deemed impossible”
Erdoðan, pointing out that they have taken very important steps towards becoming a regional and global power, beyond self-defense, “We have undertaken many operations and many successes deemed impossible. Thanks to our strong industrial infrastructure, rich human resources and hardworking entrepreneurs focused on development, we have found new ways to overcome every challenge. The progress our country has made in the defense industry is followed with admiration all over the world.”
Erdoðan stressed that the third airport they have added to Istanbul is one of the most important infrastructures of Turkey's vision for 2053.
“From education to health, from transportation to energy, we have implemented projects of real historical importance in all areas during this period of adversity. Even our comprehensive General Health Insurance system is a success story in itself; we understand its value much better during the pandemic with city hospitals. Here in Ýstanbul Atatürk Airport and Sancaktepe 1008-bed hospitals were constructed in a period of 2 months and patients can reach the hospital in 5 minutes from the plane. Why did we do all this? To fight Covid.”
- “Entering a new era in Turkey with the world”
Erdoðan emphasizing that they have taken very important steps in the fight against the pandemic, having built a huge hospital in Baþakþehir as well, said:
“With the reforms we have made to pave the way for our investors, we have placed our country in 33rd place among 190 countries by rising 27 places in the ease of doing business index. To put this in context, in 2002, when the company establishment period was 38 days, we reduced the period to under 7 days. Now Turkey is entering a new era with the world through the process of change revealed by the pandemic. Our country is considered one of the rising centers of investment, production and trade. We are now at a time when even gear shifting is not enough, we need to change vehicles. We are determined to do whatever it takes to do so.”
President Erdoðan pointed out that the legal and economic reforms they have been working on for some time are preparations for this new era.
“As a government which has implemented the most established democratic and economic reforms in Turkey, of course it is our duty to implement the changes needed in the coming period. We are now on the verge of a breakthrough that will finalize our building, which we laid the foundation for, so to speak. Hopefully, our country will leave the preparatory era behind and enter the new era in full stride. We will continue to provide the most appropriate conditions for domestic and international investors in every sense. We will see our country differentiate itself in production, employment, exports and growth in a positive way. With the leading data for September, it is now certain that we will close the third quarter with strong growth. In September, our industrial production increased on both a monthly and yearly basis, a most significant success.”
- “I believe we will end the year with positive growth”
Recep Tayyip Erdoðan said the turnover index increased by 26.2 per cent year-on-year in September, with steps in the industrial and commercial sectors.
Erdoðan also expressed his believes that they will end the year with positive growth despite difficulties caused by the pandemic and which are still ongoing, “For this, the fight against inflation is our top priority. Our goal is to reach the single digit inflation figures as soon as possible. We will continue on our way with a growth and employment-oriented understanding by maintaining fiscal discipline, improving the quality of public financing, implementing structural and micro-reforms, and not deviating from our line of change.”
Erdoðan stressed that they will solve the problems in front of them in accordance with the rules of the market economy, said:
“Of course, we are aware of the difficulties caused by the measures we have taken to prevent the outbreak. As a state, we strive to reduce these difficulties by using our facilities to the utmost capability. Hopefully next year, this will be only bitter memories, having left behind all these challenges. We know that our responsibility is heavy, but our trust, energy, enthusiasm, will for our nation is even greater. We have brought our country to today's level of regional and global leadership with you. Hopefully, we will overcome our difficulties with you again and together we will reach the goal of a great and powerful Turkey.”
Erdoðan also expressed his satisfaction at meeting with the chamber and stock exchange presidents and wished the business world, artisans and artisans, producers, all sectors good and abundant gains.
- Commemorative tree planted in the name of President Erdoðan
Following the opening speeches, a plane tree was planted in the TOBB ETU Commemorative Forest in the name of President Recep Tayyip Erdoðan. Tree planting was carried out by TOBB ETU Rector Yusuf Sarýnay.
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