Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Speaking at the TOBB ETU Senate Hall as a guest of Hisarcıklıoğlu, Driftmann stated that German companies are ready to form partnerships and that his company wants to purchase olive oil from Turkey and that they are considering investing in Turkey. Saarland Chamber President and Karlsberg Beers owner Dr. Richard Weber stated that they are looking for Turkish partners to produce alcohol free beer aimed at Turks in Germany and that they could market the product under a Turkish brand. Berlin Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Dr. Eric Schweitzer stated that they operate in the field of recycling and that they wish to work together with Turkish partners.

- A similar version of the bilateral training in Germany is also found in TOBB ETU

Stating that the DIHK is very strong in terms of foreign relations, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the union has an extensive international structure and that they will exchange views in this regard.

Reminding that Germany is Turkey primary trade partner, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that as of the end of 2011 the trade volume between the two countries has reached 37 billion Dollars. Stating that 4,801 German companies are operating with 10 billion Dollars invested in Turkey, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “The investment of German companies was less than usual last year. There was a total investment volume of 321 million Dollars from Germany last year. I don’t know whether to be happy or sad by the amount of foreign investments in Turkey last year totaled up to 748 billion Dollars. This means that Turkey has begun to export capital to Germany.

- We could cooperate in third world countries

Emphasizing that in terms of Turkey-Germany relations, we should not be just looking at commerce, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that there is the possibility of doing business in third world countries; the possibility of cooperation is present especially in Middle East, the Balkans and Central Asia republics.

Drawing attention to the fact that approximately 3 million Turkish citizens are living in Germany today, Hisarcıklıoğlu said: “70,000 of these citizens are owners of small and medium sized enterprises. These establishments achieve a turnover amount of approximately 40 billion Euros. They have invested around 9 billion Euros in Germany and they are providing employment 450,000 Turkish and Germans. They are contributing to the economy and employment, especially in Germany.”

- Driftmann and Weber

The German Union of Chambers of Commerce and Commodity Exchanges (DIHK) President Hans Heinrich Driftmann stated that Turkey and Germany have had strong relations for centuries and that they’ve cooperated in many fields.

Driftmann stated that they wish to find a partner to work in the fields of cereal and grain. Driftmann answered a question regarding which fields were viable for partnership with Turkish companies stated they needed grain and wheat for their renewable energy investments and that they wish to buy olive oil.

Karlsberg Beers owner Dr. Richard Weber stated that they wish to cooperate regarding an alcohol-free beer which would be chosen by Turks and that they are searching for a partner in this endeavor.

- Meeting with President Gül in İstanbul

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, The German Union of Chambers of Commerce and Commodity Exchanges (DIHK) President Hans Heinrich Driftmann and the delegation of German businessmen with him met with the President of the Republic, Abdullah Gül in the Tarabya Palace in İstanbul.
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