Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

The meeting, hosted by TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğu, was attended by Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, Minister of Trade Prof. Dr. Ömer Bolat, TOBB Transport and Logistics Council Chairman Şerafettin Aras and sector representatives.

Within the framework of the meeting, important developments in Türkiye’s foreign trade activities such as international land transportation of goods, air cargo transportation, railway investments, port sector and maritime transportation, as well as the targets set forth in the transportation councils and the progress made in the World Bank Logistics Performance Index were discussed.

Speaking here, Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out that international trade is growing with the pandemic behind them, and in this context, the global trade volume is expected to break a record this year and reach 33 trillion dollars.

Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that Türkiye has a strategic importance with its location connecting 3 continents, and stated that they should make the best use of this geographical advantage and increase their competitiveness in transit transportation.

- “Joint work is being carried out with ministries”

Pointing out the need for multi-modal transportation models that prioritize digitalization and green transformation in logistics, minimize waiting at border crossings, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “In this respect, we must remove the obstacles to trade and transportation by carrying out the necessary legislative arrangements and infrastructure works. At this point, I would like to give credit to our Ministries, with which we work together and carry out joint projects in order to facilitate transportation and develop trade.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu reminded that the joint work with the Ministry of Transport and Infrastructure started in 1992 with the distribution of transit documents, and emphasized that in more than 30 years of cooperation, they continue to take firm steps forward thanks to the Ministry’s efforts to improve transportation.

- “We have renovated 15 customs gates so far with Customs Tourism Enterprises”

M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they act together with the Ministry of Trade at national and international level to protect the rights and laws of the sector, increase competitiveness, and facilitate border crossings, and said, “With the approval and support of the Ministry of Trade, we started to modernize land customs gates. We have renovated 15 customs gates so far with the Customs Tourism Enterprises company, which is a joint organization of TOBB and 137 chambers and commodity exchanges. We were selected as the most successful public-private sector cooperation project by the UN and we were shown as an example to other countries.”

- “Digitalization of truck carnets is important”

Pointing out that the transportation sector is a sector that does not stop and works on a 24/7 basis, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that while the whole world was closing to homes in the pandemic, the importance of the transportation sector, which ensures the continuity of the supply chain, has become evident.

Stating that the institutions that support the transportation sector should eliminate the problems and produce solutions, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that it is extremely valuable that the Ministries of Trade and Transport Infrastructure are acting with this understanding. Hisarcıklıoğlu made the following statements:

“As a result of the work we have carried out internationally with the Ministry of Trade, we are the pioneer and leading country in e-TIR. In order to maintain this position, it is of great importance for the transportation sector that the process, which is currently being finalized, is accelerated and implemented as soon as possible. Our international stakeholders, the United Nations and the IRU, are closely following the developments on e-TIR in Türkiye, which is one of the largest users of the TIR System. e-TIR System is currently the only customs transit regime used worldwide. Therefore, the digitalization of TIR carnets will ensure that our transporters get the most out of the benefits of this system.”

- “Iraq and Egypt are very important for opening new markets for the transportation sector”

Stating that opening to new markets is essential for the trade and transportation sectors, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Both Iraq and Egypt are very important countries in order to make transportation more widespread and to open new markets for the transportation sector of our country. After the intensive work and support of our Ministry of Trade, Iraq became a party to the TIR system. The rapid integration of Iraq into the TIR system is important for safe and sustainable trade. In addition, it is extremely important to make Iraq a transit country and to make contacts for the realization of our trade to the Gulf countries through this country. As TOBB, together with the Ministry of Trade, we have provided Iraq with all necessary support in this regard and we are ready to continue to do so. In this way, the Development Road Project, which has been on the agenda recently, will also be supported. It will pave the way for the Arabian Gulf to be connected to Europe through our country.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that at the point of opening up to new markets, the current trade with Egypt remains far below the potential and said, “We should also see it as the entry point of North African countries and make our planning accordingly. In this context, it is very important to sign the land route agreement between our country and Egypt as soon as possible.”

- “We are working for the sustainable growth of our country in transit transportation”

Hisarcıklıoğlu shared that the issues discussed within the scope of the meeting aim to develop Türkiye’s commercial and logistics networks in a way to lead a sustainable development model and said, “Türkiye’s logistics investments, international cooperation and innovative solutions are of great importance in becoming one of the leading countries in global trade. With this understanding, we must continue our efforts with determination to ensure the sustainable growth of our country in transit transportation and to be at the center of regional trade. Most importantly, while building Türkiye’s future, we must continue to work shoulder to shoulder as the public and private sectors.”

- Vice President Yılmaz

In his speech, Vice President Cevdet Yılmaz said, “With our geographical position, political relations and initiatives, I believe that Türkiye will and is achieving a central position in world logistics.”

Stating that Türkiye plays a decisive role in shaping global trade, Yılmaz said that the meeting is of great importance in terms of determining the steps to realize the opportunities provided by Türkiye’s strategic location.

Yılmaz said that logistics is the heart of the global economy and trade, and that Türkiye has advantages in becoming the center of global logistics thanks to its geographical location.

Yılmaz stated that another corridor Türkiye is working on is the “Development Road” corridor and said, “With this project, a large industrial zone is already planned in Iraq’s Faw Port. Again, I believe that a basin of prosperity will be formed along this entire route. It will contribute to peace, regional security and prosperity. It will facilitate the access of our country’s export products to the Gulf countries through the Development Road and even from the Persian Gulf to South Asia. This will also have a regional reflection. It will contribute to the whole of Türkiye, but more so to the Southeast. With the construction of the Development Road, the regional development of our Southeastern Anatolia region will receive a great power and support.”

- Trade Minister Bolat

Trade Minister Ömer Bolat also stated that they are in an important process in road transportation with the European Union (EU) and said, “We convey our demand for transit quota liberalization and removal of quotas in every meeting with the EU.”

In his speech at the opening of the Transportation Corridors and Transit Transportation Meeting in the Turkish Century held at TOBB Twin Towers, Minister Bolat stated that the Covid-19 outbreak, the Russia-Ukraine War and the February 6 earthquakes showed the importance of the logistics and transportation sectors to the whole world.

Pointing to the importance of transporting the goods produced or sold, Bolat said, “We will achieve the goal of ‘the century of logistics and transportation’ within the framework of our President’s vision of the Century of Türkiye together with you.”

Bolat said that Türkiye’s economy continues to provide employment and increase exports with its dynamic, flexible and productive structure.

- Minister of Transport and Infrastructure Uraloğlu

Abdulkadir Uraloğlu, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure, said in his speech regarding the steps to be taken in Syria, “The normalization of Syria will be ensured faster with our relations in the field of transportation and communication.”

Uraloğlu pointed out that Türkiye is working to increase the effectiveness of the Central Corridor with many projects ranging from the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars Railway Line to the Zengezur Corridor, and said that negotiations are ongoing with the Azerbaijani side regarding the Zengezur Corridor.

Stating that Türkiye is located in a dynamic geography, Uraloğlu said, “We were thinking about what we could do to Syria, and now I can say that we are trying to put this into a little more flesh and blood. With our relations in the field of transportation and communication, the normalization of Syria will be ensured faster.”