Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Turkey Businessmen and Industrialists Confederation (TUSKON) 4th Plenary Meeting was held at the WOW İstanbul Hotels and Convention Center in İstanbul. Attending the meeting were Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu as well as the Economy Minister Zafer Çağlayan, Industry and Technology Minister Nihat Ergün and TUSKON President Rızanur Meral.

In his speech, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that in the last 10 years, with trust and stability, the decision making processes have sped up and each step is taken more confidently. Stating that public-private sector consultation mechanisms are in place and that decisions are taken following consultation with the private sector, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “In this era, huge structural reforms, which had crawled along or were ignored, have been completed. In your presence, I would like to thank the architect of this era of stability and reform, our Prime Minister on behalf of the Turkish business world. Our Prime Minister has paved the way for us and the private sector has followed. This was all we ever wanted for years on end. Not money, just to be allowed by our government to compete on equal footing; with the grace of Allah, we can take care of the rest.”

While Europe, without political leadership, seeks to minimize the damage from the crisis each day, Turkey has set its sights squarely on 2023, stated Hisarcıklıoğlu and said, “We’re thinking big. Together, we’re focused on 2023 goals. This is the result of political vision. As the horizons of politics expand so, too, does that of the people. Now the state and the people share the same goals. We say that we will be one of the world’s 10 largest economies in 2023. We will be an economy of 2 trillion Dollars; our exports will reach 500 billion Dollars.”

- Account of the last 10 years

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that an accounting of the time spent must also be made, reminding that they have experienced one of the biggest crises to date in 2001, “Just as one of our elders said, ‘every death is the herald of a birth’. The crisis in 2001 was the herald of a new birth for this nation. This nation proved once again its honor, sagacity and that it will emerge stronger from each trial. Now look how far Turkey has come in the last 10 years: Turkey is the 17th largest economy in the world, 6th in Europe. There is a large economic crisis to the west. In Europe, 4 PM’s have resigned in the last 2 years because of the economic crisis, 10 governments have changed. To the south, 4 heads of government have been toppled by their people as a result of political upheaval in the last year. Despite all of this, Turkey has, for the first time, become the world’s fastest growing country. We’ve broken the record for exports in the Republic’s history for with an exports total of 135 billion Dollars.

In just one year, the private sector has spent 140 billion Dollars in investments and provided registered employment to 1.1 million people. Turkey has come to such prominence that where once our citizens went to Europe for work, now, European youth is learning Turkish in the hopes of finding employment in İstanbul.

It was you that achieved this. You did it by investing, by producing value. By combining the sweat of your brow with your designs, by pursuing honest earnings.”

- Big goals

Saying that now the nation and the state share the same ideal, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Turkey will be one of the world’s largest 10 economies in 2023. TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We will be an economy of 2 trillion Dollars, exporting 500 billion Dollars. Look, dear friends, do you know why the 2023 goal is so very important? Because reaching this means that every individual in Turkey will be richer. If Turkey enters the top 10 the per capita income will increase by 2.5 times, reaching 25,000 Dollars. Then will our citizens reach the standards of the European citizens. They will receive what they rightly due.”

- New constitution

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the first step in reaching this goal is a new Constitution and said, “The present system no longer matches the goals of this nation. The goals no longer fit the mold we have. These clothes are too small for this body. We have to tailor ourselves a new and modern suit. But this time the tailor will be the people themselves. The new Constitution should no longer be written by experts behind closed doors and only ratified by the people. It is with joy that I can say that the National Assembly has the same views as we do in this regard. The Grand National Assembly of Turkey says that the tailor should be the people and is noting the views of the citizens and NGOs to this end.

In this matter we are achieving a first in Turkey. As organizations, instead of declaring differing ideas, we said ‘grace and prosperity in unity; anguish in dissent’ and came together. We established the ‘Constitution Platform’ comprised of 24 professional organizations, syndicate confederations and civil society organizations.

TUSKON is a part of this platform, as is TİM. We are working together in outstanding harmony. In your presence, I would like to thank Mr. Meral and Mr. Büyükekşi.”

- “If families wish for their children to receive religious training then this should be allowed”

Stating that the tenets of the new constitution should be various freedoms, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “As the late Özal said, three basic freedoms: Freedom of thought, freedom of religion and conscience and the freedom of enterprise must be the main dynamic of this country. The foundation of this is the freedom of education. I will say it clearly: If families wish for their children to receive religious training then this should be allowed. Once it is allowed people can take part in it or not according to their wishes. They say that families will manipulate their children. Excuse me, but a family has a say in regards to their children. You won’t object when people send their children to German or French college in Turkey; manipulation won’t occur to you in those instances but you will call out when it comes to religious training. This is no proper perception of freedom. Families everywhere in the world influence the education of their children. There can be nothing more natural than this.”

- All balance and statuses in the world will change

Stating that the global politics and economy will undergo a great change in the coming era, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that Turkey would bear a huge burden and responsibility. Stating that the greatest treasure in this journey will be the nation’s spirit unity and solidarity, the TOBB President said, “This unity of heart will be what takes us to our goals. I heartily believe that, in 12 years, we will be an economy that exceeds 2 trillion Dollars and one of the ten largest economies in the world. We will without fail and relentlessly go forth into unfamiliar lands and search for business opportunities and increase our exports. We must work diligently in all fields. Setting your heart on the path you take is as instrumental as determination, purpose and effort in achieving success. That is why those who set their hearts on this path will prosper; that is why grace and prosperity will abound for those who do.”

- Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan thanked the TUSKON administration, members and affiliates for their contributions to Turkey’s economy and for the services they’ve rendered unto Turkey.

Congratulating federations and associations in the 7 regions and 81 provinces of Turkey; the legations and TUSKON member businessmen abroad for their efforts towards a great Turkey, Erdoğan said, “I would like to present my gratitude to TUSKON and all of its members, especially those promoting Turkey throughout the world and carrying the Star and Crescent Flag and the greatness of this noble nation to the farthest places on the earth on behalf of myself, my country and my nation.”

Stating that TUSKON’s mission is not to just trade, but to grow Turkey’s economy, to serve the country and nation, to proclaim Turkey’s name to the whole world, Erdoğan went on, “TUSKON has shown that it is different by favoring modesty, not ambition; sharing, not profit; solidarity, not exploitation and by promoting its country and nation instead of itself while standing staunchly behind the values it holds dear.”

Turkey is singled out with its strong, resilient and stable growing economy and watched with approval for being the hand that gives, not the hand that takes. The point that we’ve reached today is without a doubt wholly the work of the nation itself.

Turkey is moving forward on the course set by its people. Turkey is rising on as per the will, demands and goals of its noble people. This is why Turkey is growing; this is why Turkey is succeeding.”

- Economy Minister Çağlayan

Stating that Turkey will once show to the world its performance with its growth in 2011, Çağlayan said that, last year, 53,409 companies were established, 191,000 new business had opened; meaning that 6 new companies were established each hour while 22 businesses were opened every hour.

Turkey performed better than 20 of 27 EU countries in terms of public budget, financial discipline, budget deficit and unemployment figures stated Çağlayan and emphasized that Turkey’s success was held up as an example in many countries.

The Economy Minister Çağlayan stated that the expedition to China next week, lead by Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, is very important and will be widely attended by businessmen.

- TUSKON President Rızanur Meral

Stating that they aim to take Turkish entrepreneurs abroad, TUSKON President Rızanur Meral said that they are the largest volunteer business world organization in Turkey. Meral said that the passion of the Anatolian people for democracy and basic rights and freedoms has also paved the way for Tuskon and that they share the dream of a strong Turkey of the future of Prime Minister Erdoğan.

Emphasizing that Turkey needs to focus on diversifying its international markets, Meral stated that they are awaiting the new incentive mechanisms for this with anticipation.

Rızanur Meral stated that the new Turkish Trade Law will open up the way for trade but needs some adjustments.

Rızanur Meral urged that there should be financial punishment for financial crimes. Meral expressed their gratification for the acceptance of the new education law.

Meral emphasized that they want the preparation process of the new constitution to be completed in 2012.

- TİM President Mehmet Büyükekşi

Turkey Exporters Council (TİM) President Mehmet Büyükekşi said in his speech, “Turkey has achieved a strong economic momentum. Our work to achieve 500 billion Dollars’ worth of exports in 2023 is ongoing.

This year’s export goal is 150 billion Dollars.” Saying that exporting has developed greatly in 10 years, Büyükekşi thanked Prime Minister Erdoğan.

Stating that the goal is to raise the GNP to 2 trillion Dollars, Büyükekşi said that the economic morale of Turkey is very high. The TİM President said that Turkey is a rising star.
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