Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Attending the meeting in addition to Minister Pekcan and Hisarcıklıoğlu were Turkey Tradesmen and Artisans Confederation (TESK) Chairman Bendevi Palandöken, Turkey Exporters Assembly (TIM) President İsmail Gülle, the Turkish Industrialists and Business People's Association (TUSIAD) President Simone Kaslowski, Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) President Nail Olpak, Independent Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (MUSIAD) President Abdurrahman Kaan and Turkey Contractors Association (TMB) President Mithat Yenigün.

Hisarcıklıoğlu, in his speech at the Ministry of Commerce Advisory Council Review Meeting held with the participation of Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan, stated that as Turkish business organizations, they came together with the Minister of Commerce, Ruhsar Pekcan, in order to consult on this new breakthrough period and stressing the importance of these consultation meetings.

- Election-free period of opportunity

Hisarcıklıoğlu, referring to the opportunities that will be provided by the next 4.5 year period without elections, said, “We see the next 4.5 years with no elections as an important opportunity to bring permanent solutions to our structural problems, because we have more steps to take in the economy and more work to be done. The economy has indicated this necessity prior to the election.”

Pointing out that an announcement by Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak is expected to draw a new road map for the economy next week, Hisarcıklıoğlu said:

“With this roadmap, confidence in our country and economy will increase by continuing the disciplined stance in public finances, continuing to reduce the need for outsourcing, improving the competitiveness of the private sector through cautionary measures. At a time of increased instability in the global economy and rising geopolitical risks, the period free of elections are a golden opportunity for the 82 million for Turkey to progress towards its goals.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that through a period of action and reform, they would reach the 100^th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey, 2023, stressed that they should raise the country's economic level as befitting its centennial anniversary and implement a new investment, production and growth model within this scope.

“Now, it is time to focus on the future of the country, to write a new economic success story together,” Hisarcıklıoğlu stressed that it is necessary to support the employment campaign launched last month with a new investment and growth campaign, focus on persistent reforms for Turkey to progress towards its goals and to make the economy the primary focus of their agenda.

- Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan

In her speech at the opening of the meeting, Minister of Trade Ruhsar Pekcan stated that they have come together with the heads of NGOs representing almost all of the business world at the consultation meetings, and that they have put their problems and solution proposals on the table, planning the future.

Stating that they’ve formulated roadmaps together in regards to Brexit, the Customs Union update and new markets, Pekcan added that joint working groups have been formed, striving to create higher added-value endeavors and positive contributions to the economy by combining the power of civil society and the power of the state. Pekcan said, “The period ahead will be one of action to take very important steps in the economy for us.”

Pekcan reported that, according to the General Trade System (GTS), March exports reached 16.334 billion USD, first quarter exports increasing by 3.44% while imports decreased by 21.46%.

Pointing out that in the first quarter of last year, the ratio of exports to imports was 67.1%, while this figure rose to 88.2% in the same period of 2019, Pekcan went on:

“What does this mean? External financing needs of our country, borrowing needs are decreasing. Our foreign trade figures for first three months compared with the same period of 2018, our external financing needs decreasing by 15.2 billion USD. Secondly, it is an indication of net exports contributing to Turkey's growth.

Under these global economy circumstances, Turkey's economy has grown by 2.6%. The contribution of our foreign trade to this growth is 4.2%. In the third quarter, the contribution of our foreign trade to growth was 6.73 and the contribution of our net exports to growth was 9.7 points in the last quarter. These figures also show that exports have become a decisive force in Turkey’s economy. Our aim is to increase reforms in the coming period to continue this positive contribution by increasing exports and ratio of exports to imports.”

- “We hope 2019 will be a year of action for us”

Pekcan spoke in regards to what has been done within the scope of the first 100-day action plan, explaining the reforms and projects implemented by the ministry in recent years.

Pekcan talked about the activities of tradesmen and craftsmen in the fields of exporting, expanding of exports, branding, use of new technologies and e-commerce.

Pekcan reported the launching of paper-free customs, start of legislation to establish a specialized free zone as well as the commerce electronic recordkeeping program which is underway.

Pekcan, referring to the modernization of the border gates, stated that Habur and Kapikule are continuing their expansion efforts.

- Other speakers

Turkey Tradesmen and Artisans Confederation (TESK) President Bendevi Palandöken stated that the elections are behind them now and the agenda must focus on the economy, ensure people’s prosperity and eliminate unfair competition.

Turkish Industrialists and Business People's Association (TUSIAD) President Simone Kaslowski, noting that Turkey has been focused on a busy political agenda in the last 4 years, said, “Today, our priority should be to bring the inflation rate to the low single digit levels as soon as possible to ensure financial stability.”

Turkey Exporters Assembly (TIM) President İsmail Gülle, noting that a 4.5-year election-free period is ahead of them, “We must spend this time talking and creating economic reforms, expanding more support and incentives as well as increasing exports.”

Turkey Union of Contractors (TMB) President Mithat Yenigün stated that they have the potential to make a powerful leap in 4-4.5-year period ahead and that the contracting sector has been in contact with the whole world.

Independent Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (MUSIAD) President Abdurrahman Kaan, stated that, as of today, the country will focus on the economy and expend energy wholly on the economy for the next 4.5 years.

Nail Olpak, the President of the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK), said that in recent years, the election agendas have been too busy and that it is now time to devote even more time to economic development and reforms than we currently do.