Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

In his speech there, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu noted that global transformations in energy, food, climate, and technology are shaping a new order, adding that in such a period, the business community’s expectations are for peace, stability, and predictability.

The TOBB President stated that geopolitical conflicts, protectionism, and vulnerabilities in supply chains threaten global growth.

Referring to global economic developments, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “The transformations in energy, food, climate, and technology are shaping a new order. In such a period, the business community’s expectations are clear: we want peace, stability, and predictability. We need bridges, not walls. Türkiye is one of these bridges. With its strategic location, strong industrial base, and entrepreneurial workforce, Türkiye deserves this role,” he said.

Hisarcıklıoğlu noted that Turkish companies are engaged in trade and investment all over the world, and that contractors are also undertaking major projects.

Emphasizing that industrialists operate as a reliable part of value chains, particularly in Europe, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that TOBB also builds bridges between business communities in different regions.

Hisarcıklıoğlu mentioned that they have assumed the role of private sector representative for COP31, which Türkiye will host this year, and emphasized their goal of making the business community an active part of this process.

Expressing that they value the ambassadors’ support, Hisarcıklıoğlu noted the following:

“We invite countries, business organizations, and companies to participate in the COP31 efforts. This collaborative effort is the most concrete way to increase mutual trade and investment. Governments must also work together with the diplomatic community and the business sector. As the Turkish business community, we will continue to produce and invest.”

- ASO President Seyit Ardıç

ASO President Seyit Ardıç, noting that the global economy has undergone a profound and structural transformation in recent years, stated in his speech, “In addition to cost and efficiency, geopolitical security, supply continuity, the reduction of strategic dependencies, and political predictability are also becoming decisive factors in economic decisions.”

Ardıç highlighted the importance of Türkiye’s geographic location, noting that the country holds a unique position among different power centers in the new global order.

Emphasizing that Türkiye has long-standing integration with Europe’s production and trade systems, Ardıç stated, “Türkiye’s proximity to Central Asia’s energy and raw material resources, its deepening ties with the Turkic world, its access to Middle Eastern markets, and its connections extending to South Asia provide Türkiye with a broad scope for economic maneuver.” “One of the factors strengthening Türkiye’s position is its geostrategic location. The intersection in Türkiye of the Middle Corridor, which connects China and Central Asia to Europe, and the Development Route, which will extend from the Persian Gulf to Europe, makes our country one of the natural hubs of trade and logistics networks,” he said.

- Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Hacı Ali Özel

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Hacı Ali Özel also expressed his pleasure at participating in this gathering, which brought together foreign ambassadors in Türkiye with Ankara’s business community, and thanked the ASO for organizing the event.

Özel emphasized that cooperation between diplomatic and economic actors is of great importance in further advancing Türkiye’s strong production capacity, entrepreneurial spirit, and economic ties that extend across vast regions, stating, “This event has once again demonstrated that diplomacy is not limited to relations between states; our economic relations, trade, investments, and entrepreneurs are also important components of our foreign policy.”