Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Awarded first by the French Emperor, Napoleon, in 1804, the decoration has been awarded to Hisarcıklıoğlu for his contributions to relations between Turkey and France. First awarded in Turkey to Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the decoration has also been awarded to prominent business leaders prior.

Hisarcıklıoğlu received the decoration for his contributions to relations between Turkey and France. Hisarcıklıoğlu was recommended to receive the decoration by the Union of French Chambers of Commerce and Industry Chair André Marcon for his contributions to economic relations between Turkey and France to the French President François Hollande who approved it.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Hisarcıklıoğlu condemned the terror attack which targeted France. Expressing solidarity for the people of France, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Our people who are fighting terrorism understand all too well France’s anxiety. Terror targets freedom, equality, brotherhood and human honor. Terror has no religion and no nationality. I hope that there will be an end to such suffering.”

Expressing his honor in receiving this decoration from the Republic of France, President Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “I am an entrepreneur, an industrialist. I’ve believed in the importance of Turkish-French economic and social relations. Our friendship stretches back 700 years. At the hardest of times, we worked in cooperation with our French friends. Turkish – French relations are important for EU, Middle East and world peace. With this important decoration our responsibilities in strengthening Turkish – French relations have become even more significant.”

- New trade thrust to France

Drawing attention to the need to increase trade between the two countries, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We have a bilateral trade volume of 15 billion USD. This figure reflects neither the economic power of France, nor that of Turkey. We must bring new momentum to trade. Investments of French companies in Turkey are around 10%. We support foreign investment from more French companies. We would like to see more French investment into Turkey, especially in the fields of energy and transportation. France should receive more investment from Turkey as well.”

- “Customs union will increase trade”

TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that public acquisitions are also on the agenda in addition industrial as a part of the Customs Union, and said, “A modernized Customs Union will have increased transaction volume. France is the architect of the EU. Turkey and Europe need France’s support. France should contribute to the development of relations via the EU accession process. France’s support in a vision of EU which includes Turkey is necessary.”

- Call for investment in 5 fields by France

French Foreign Trade Minister Matthias Fekl stated that both countries need to take advantage of existing opportunities and that modernizing the Customs Union would elevate bilateral trading volume. Stating that they are very pleased with France companies investing in Turkey, Fekl said, “They want to contribute to the development of your country as well as contributing to your achievement of the 2023 goals in the fields of energy, infrastructure, railways and finance. It is also important that Turkish companies become active in France. As the Minister of Foreign Trade, I think we can expand our relations in 5 fields. Turkish and French companies should focus on this potential. We want to establish the Turkish-French Chamber of Commerce. We also want to engender a strong and close cooperation between the two chambers under France, bringing together French people interested in Turkey and Turks interested in France.”