Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

In his speech Erdoğan reminded that the trade volume between the two countries has covered a serious progress during the last 8 years, continuing:

 

 “We have encountered a problem in the point we have reached. In 2002 the trade volume was 1.3 billion dollars. In 2008 it has reached 8 billion dollars. In 2009 due to the global crisis this has reduced to 4 billion dollars. According to the figures that were announced in November 2010, it is predicted that we will be closing 2010 with 5 billion dollars. My dear friend just expressed a while ago as well. He used 10 billion dollars in today’s Press Conference. I replied, ‘this doesn’t suit us we have to increase to 20 billion dollars.’ We possess this will power. Let’s achieve 20 billion dollars in the first 5 years and increase this to 40 billion dollars in the next 10 years. Turkey and Ukraine need to think big. Both countries are active in very different sectors. Steps have been taken in the Energy and Defense sectors. Besides this, steps have also been taken in the agricultural sector. We possess capabilities in the lower and upper structure. We are two countries that have caught technology. I am sure that both countries will achieve their goals with certainty. The High Level Strategic Council we have signed will enable us to achieve this goal. We are aware that there are factors slowing the foreign trade down. But I know that we will overcome these with the liaisons that we establish. We as politicians are committed to overcome such problems. Along with Ukraine’s initiatives of taking steps to move  towards free market economy, the interest of the Turkish companies to the respective region will increase. Currently there are over 400 companies in Ukraine. The amount of investments has exceeded 1 billion dollars.”

 

Prime Minister Erdoğan indicated that Turkish contracting companies have undertaken successful work, saying, ‘The Turkish companies have undertaken 128 projects amounting to a total value of over 3 billion dollars in Ukraine. Our contractors are in the capacity of undertaking organizations such as 2012 European Championship. Our contractors here have achieved successful works. They will bring forward this success along with the European Football Championship.  We want to see the Ukrainian investors in Turkey so that they will meet, get to know each other and can go together to 3rd countries for investment purposes. I want to express that we will provide every kind of convenience and open our doors widely.”

 

Ukraine’s President, Yanukovych

 

The President of Ukraine, Yanukovych, referred to the relationship between the two countries, and said that he is glad that Turkey being amongst the 20 largest economies in the world is one of the most important trade partners of Ukraine. His speech continued as follows;

 

“We have aimed at a bilateral trade volume worth of 10 billion dollars but the Prime Minister, Erdoğan, has increased this to 20 billion dollars.  We will do our best to accomplish this along with the Prime Minister Erdoğan. For this purpose we need new ideas and creative approaches. Ukraine is conducting intensive studies to consolidate the investment conditions in the path of reform. Turkish businessmen are successful in their activities in Ukraine. We are ready to improve the conditions for conducting business for this purpose.

 

Honorary doctorate title for Erdogan

 

On the other hand, Taras Shevchenko National University of Kiev in Ukraine granted the Honorary doctorate title to the Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. In his speech delivered during the ceremony of honorary doctorate, Erdoğan said, “We have a saying, ‘Pen is sharper than sword’. Yes the pen cuts the sword. Works that have been done with good faith have reached today by overtaking ages. With all the due deference to the memory of Shevchenko I would like to underline that; we are now in a period that distances are shortened by globalization. Now the physical environment we get news about about is more than our village or city.”

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