Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

TOBB Board of Directors Treasurer Faik Yavuz started his speech at the opening of the forum by praying for the grace of Allah to those who lost their lives in the mining accident in Bartın and condolences to their families.

Stating that the global economy is going through a difficult period, Faik Yavuz said, “Therefore, we need strong international cooperation. We must strengthen our private sector in our countries. Because the main power of countries in our age comes from their private sectors.”

Yavuz said that the strength and dynamism of the Turkish economy is based on the private sector, thanks to which they have established the largest industrial production capacity between Italy and China and have become an entrepreneurial country that exports the largest industrial products.

Explaining that they are one of the important suppliers of Europe in many sectors, especially in automotive, white goods and apparel, Faik Yavuz said, “We are the country where the EU imports the most automobiles outside of itself. We have achieved all this by making trade free and increasing competition. Because trade enriches, protectionism impoverishes. Especially for the stability and prosperity of developing countries, it is essential that trade is more free.”

Pointing out that the bilateral trade volume between Türkiye and Mongolia is growing, Yavuz said: “Last year, our bilateral trade increased by 45%. The increase continues this year. Our economies are complementary to each other. Therefore, we believe that there are many more opportunities for cooperation. Tourism can be an important area of cooperation. Thanks to the Göktürk Inscriptions in the Orkhon Valley, tourists can be attracted from Türkiye to Mongolia. It was decided that the Orkhon Valley would become a tourism center. The modernization of Orkhon airport can create an opportunity for joint investment. We also have a serious potential for cooperation in the field of mining. There is a lot of opportunity for cooperation in gold, copper, uranium and coal mines. There is also a great potential in the field of agriculture and animal husbandry. In addition, the leather sector is an important area of cooperation.”

Stating that TOBB and Mongolia National Chamber of Commerce and Industry established the Turkish-Mongolian Chamber of Commerce and Industry Forum, Faik Yavuz said that this joint Chamber continues to work to increase mutual trade.

- Other conversations

Gombojav, the head of the Mongolian National Grand Council, said that he met with the Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Mustafa Şentop yesterday and that this meeting was fruitful and that the parties agreed on many issues.

Stating that the business forum is important for the economic relations of the two countries, Gombojav noted that a gradual liberalization in the field of aviation between Türkiye and Mongolia is needed.

Gombojav stated that the Turks visited Mongolia, the homeland of their ancestors, and that the two countries held cooperation talks in the field of animal husbandry and that there were opportunities between the two countries in the fields of trade and economy.

Stating that Türkiye sees a very important bridge between East and West, Gombojav said that the trade volume between the two countries is constantly increasing.

Amartuvshin Otgondavaa, President of Mongolia's National Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said Türkiye and Mongolia trade in many sectors. Otgondavaa said the Mongolian government supports boosting economic relations between the two countries.

Munkhbat Jamiyan, Chairman of the Mongolian-Turkish Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group, underlined that there are collaborations between Türkiye and Mongolia in mining, agriculture, animal husbandry, leather processing and tourism and that these collaborations should be further developed.

Türkiye-Mongolia Inter-Parliamentary Friendship Group Chairman Mehmet Erdoğan also drew attention to the historical and cultural relations between the two countries. Erdoğan said that Turkish contracting and construction companies rank 3^rd in the world. Emphasizing that the trade volume between the two countries should increase, Erdoğan said that Mongolia should switch to a free trade agreement.