Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Also attending the meeting in addition to Yavuz and Eshagh were TOBB Industry Chambers Council President and Ankara Chamber of Industry President Nurettin Özdebir, Tehran Commerce Industries and Mines Chamber Board member Mohammad Reza Bahraman and Tehran Commerce Industries and Mines Chamber Transportation Commission President Masoud Khansari.

- “No single country holds the reins to its fate”

Stating that the crisis in the European Union proves that no single country holds the reins to its fate by itself, Faik Yavuz said, “The European Union is unable to leave even a relatively small economy like Greece to its own fate. They know that as they share the same geography, they will either prosper together or they will lose together. For this same reason, as two of the larger countries of the region we will either prosper together or lose together. As the Turkish business world we have made our choice to prosper.”

- The target is 30 billion Dollars’ worth of trade

Saying that countries prosper by trading with their neighbors and their regions, Yavuz gave examples of the USA and China.

Yavuz stated that increased cooperation with Iran is a priority goal for them. Turkey and Iran can complement each other in their specialized fields as well as cooperating in investing and doing business in third countries.

- Turkey, an industrial giant

Providing information regarding the Turkish economy to the foreign group, Yavuz said, “Turkey was Europe’s fastest growing country with 8.9% growth rate in 2010 as well as being one of the only 7 countries in the world to have raised its credit note during the global crisis. Turkey was the world’s fastest growing country in the first three quarters of 2011 with 9.6% growth rate.

Not only has our country become quite attractive to foreign capital for investment with the developments in the last 5 years, it has also pulled in 50 billion Dollars’ worth of investments in that time. Obstacles to foreign investment have been abolished and the investment environment ameliorated.

In this regard we wish to invest bilaterally with Iran and cooperate with Iran. The number of Turkish construction companies have increased to 31 among the top 225 construction companies in the world. We have surpassed the USA and are just behind China. We are ready to provide these services to Iran.

“With regards to our complementary properties we invite Iranian companies to partake of the investment opportunities in our country.”

- Partnership in the field of energy

“The fact that electricity need for Iran, with an average growth of 5% per year for the last 5 years, will increase is a clear indication that there will need to be additional electricity production plants in Iran. Joint ventures by Iranian and Turkish companies in order to meet Iran’s increasing electricity needs will be important opportunities for cooperation.

Also, the development of the railway system between our two countries is to both our advantages. As you well know, as part of the Silk Road Revitalization Project, Turkey and Iran are destinations on the Road. Our goals are one. Do not forget that everywhere where the path of the trade route and the route of energy passes, there will be peace and prosperity.

- Özdebir: “We must develop our trade”

TOBB Industry Chambers Council President and Ankara Chamber of Industry President Nurettin Özdebir stated that Turkey and Iran are two ancient countries of the region and that both countries’ economy are complementary to each other.

Özdebir requested that channels of commerce be diversified in order to increase trade. Talking about Iran’s great potential, Özdebir said, “We can develop our joint ventures together.”

- Eshagh calls for cooperation

Iran Mines and Industry Chamber Vice President Yahya Ale Eshagh stated that Iran and Turkey hold nearly equal population and that Turkey holds larger resources in terms of production. Eshagh, relating the privatization efforts in Iran, said, “Approximately 150 billion Dollars’ worth of public agencies are being privatized.”

Stating that they are subject to massive and unfair embargoes, IranCommerce, Mines and Industry Chamber Vice President Yahya Ale Eshagh said, “Iran is a window, open and facing Turkey.”

Stating that they also wish to cooperate in the field of banking, Eshagh invited Turkish businessmen to Iran.