Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Speaking at the opening of the preparatory meeting, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Petroleum and natural gas will not make you rich. We must engage in more commerce in order to prosper. We must create a strong entrepreneur class by steering towards industry and commerce instead of energy resources and make them the driving force behind the economy.”

Pointing out the importance of the Eurasia region, with population over 400 million and 4 billion national income, has important opportunities for developing cooperation, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “It is within our power to create a shared region of political and commercial prosperity.”

The Turkish Speaking Countries Cooperation Council, Business Council Members Preparatory Meeting, held in the Union Center of TOBB in Ankara was attended by, in addition to TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu; Azerbaijan Confederation of Owners President Memmed Musayev, Kazakhstan Chamber of Commerce and Industry Deputy President Kanat Tulemetov representing ATAMEKEN, Kyrgyz Republic Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Marat Sharshekeev, TOBB Board Vice President Faik Yavuz and the Secretary General of The Turkish Speaking Countries Cooperation Council, Ambassador Halil Akıncı.

Emphasizing the importance of establishing an effective cooperation in Eurasia, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “The establishment of prosperity and sustainable development is largely connected to how the energy resources are utilized. However we also know that it is insufficient to have natural resource and base the country’s economy solely on resources such as petroleum and natural gas and it does not increase the ability compete.”

Expressing his gratification to be meeting in Ankara prior to the Turkish Speaking Countries Cooperation Council Summit, to be held on October 20-21 of 2011 in Kazakhstan, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they were researching ways increase commercial and economic relations between countries.

Expressing his hopes that the agreement regarding the establishment of a business council planned to be signed at the Summit will be a means to many prosperous endeavors, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Eurasia countries must cooperate.

Stating that countries’ commercial and economic developments are tied to the development of the private sector, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said;

“Together, we can ensure that our region becomes a haven of prosperity. In this regard, it is planned that a permanent and structural cooperation platform in the region be established. Out unity will give strength to us. We know that facilitating the activities of businessmen who, by doing business, contribute to the economies of the region will be beneficial to the utilization of the region’s maximum potential.

On the other hand, the existence of a dependable legislative environment is one of the important factors of the development of commerce.

We hope that an equal participation arbitration mechanism to swiftly address disputes which may arise from commercial and economic relations will be established.”

- The Silk Road Project

Touching on the topic of the project to bring the historic Silk Road back to life as well, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated, “As you well know, the Silk Road brought economic prosperity for centuries, its seeds tied societies and civilizations together. Now, as production, commerce and dynamism shifts again towards Asia, it will bring us prosperity again. However, there are things that we need to do about it first. We must develop the infrastructure of roads, increase the capacity of ports and invest in infrastructure for the roads and railroads post-port as well as improving the routes of Ro-Ro lines in the Caspian Sea; aligning national legislations and actively participating in international legislations.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu said that signing ECOTA would greatly benefit countries as part of the Economic Cooperation Organization.

After the meeting protocols for; the developments of workgroups for the Establishment of the Private Sector, Arbitration, Transportation and Customs Cooperation Development and the Establishment of Development Agencies and the development of cooperation in the sectors of Agriculture and Livestock, Energy, Construction, Tourism, Health and Education were signed.
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