Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Turkey’s performance as the Business 20 Chair (B20), the business arm of the G20 which represents the 20 countries which make up 80% of the world’s trade volume, is being met with admiration by the global business community. The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu is chairing the B20, the meetings of which have been attended by 350 people from all over the globe. The B20 Committee was comprised of 200, now increased to 600.

- 350 business leaders meet in Washington D.C.

TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We’ve put in motion one of the largest meetings Turkey has held in Washington D.C. We’ve brought together 350 business leaders from all around the world. Unfortunately Turkey has been much maligned in the last couple of years. The same held true when we took on the G20 chair: They stated that, ‘Turkey will fail in this.’ We, however, have been performing greatly until now. Our term is being called the best in regards to B20 activity.” Stressing the significant contributions of Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan in this achievement, the TOBB President said, “He is currently the most experienced politician in regards to the G20. He has been the most active and knowledgeable politician in these matters since 2003.”

- Two important issues

Stating that efforts in Washington D.C. are resulting in important developments for Turkey, the TOBB President said, “Economic relations between Turkey and the US are very important and there are two important issues effecting these relations. One is the Armenian issue. Will it be passed in the Senate or House of Representatives? The other issue is the TTIP and the inclusion of Turkey. We are seeing positive developments in regards to both.

We’ve met with the Republican Representative for North Carolina, Virginia Fox, regarding the Armenian bill which the House of Representatives Speaker John Boehner has assured her will never pass so long as he holds office. Their support has been ensured through the efforts of Yalçın Ayaslı, a Turkish businessman, for which we thank him heartily.”

- Joint report for TTIP

“We’ve prepared a report with the US Chamber of Commerce on ‘Why Turkey Should Be Included in TTIP’, the fact that business people in the US share our point of view is a very positive step in the right direction.

- Zeytinoğlu as Anti-corruption Task Force Chairman

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, speaking in regards to the Task Forces formed as a part of B20, reported that the Chair for the Anti-corruption Task Force, Murat Ülker has requested to be replaced due to increased workload following their latest global acquisitions, “Therefore, Ayhan Zeytinoğlu has taken over. It is imperative to show how to combat corruption on a global scale.”

- “We are focusing on four big problems”

Intensifying its work under TOBB, B20 is focusing on the four big economic problems encountered throughout the world. These are unemployment, issues facing infrastructure investments, shrinking trade and the proliferation of protective measures.

- Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan

Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan attended the Think20 meeting, “Difficulties Facing the Global Economy and the Role of G20”.

Stating that global economic growth is weak and unstable, Babacan posited that even if the worst is behind us, progress is unsatisfactory at this point.

Stating that Turkey’s priorities are inclusivity, implementation and investment, Babacan spoke in regards to the many different workgroups within G20 such as Think20 (T20), Business20 (B20), Labor20 (L20), Youth20 (Y20) and Civil20 (C20) to which they are in the process of adding the Women20 (W20), in order to focus on women in business and addressing their issues as well as increasing their participation and activity in business.