Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that five main issues emerged at the ACD Chambers of Commerce and Industry Conference, “First, we are cautiously optimistic about the recovery process after Covid-19. The opinion emerged from yesterday's negotiations that public administration should play an important supporting role in the recovery process.” Hisarcıklıoğlu said that despite all the negative economic effects of Covid-19, it is thought that the process of shifting the world's economic center of gravity to Asia will not be disrupted, and that more intensive communication between countries is needed to increase Asia's competitiveness.

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they decided to meet among themselves again on thematic issues at the ACD Chambers of Commerce and Industry Conference and said that they plan to create an informal mechanism to ensure coordination and communication for this purpose. TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said: “As the first thematic issue, we are considering the spread of e-commerce in Asia. Each country has distanced during the coronavirus pandemic on remote trade, and now we believe that it is time to focus on inter-country trade opportunities. We want to share experiences on a country-by-country basis and evaluate cross-border potential. In addition, we are thinking of establishing a workgroup to deal with the internationalization of SMEs through e-commerce.”

- Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu

Foreign Minister Mevlüt Çavuşoğlu said the meeting showed that the Covid-19 pandemic could not be overcome without creative policies and solidarity, adding that it also applies to the construction of a more resilient economy and tourism sector.

Çavuşoğlu said in his opening remarks that the meeting was originally planned to take place in Turkey, but that the meeting could not take place physically due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

Çavuşoğlu said he is attending the meeting from Brussels, where he arrived for talks with the European Union (EU), NATO and Belgian officials, adding that Turkey, Europe's easternmost state and Asia's westernmost country, is a connection between the two continents, harboring symbolic meaning.

Noting that Turkey has not broken from its roots in Asia despite its deep integration with the West, Çavuşoğlu said, “We are developing new strategies to best position ourselves for this period, which is often described as the 'Asian Century'.”