Bolat: We will continue supporting international companies
Trade Minister Ömer Bolat said they will support international companies that invest in Turkey, create jobs and contribute to economic development.
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan met with representatives of the business world at the roundtable organized by the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK) of the Turkey-US Business Council (TAİK) within the framework of the 13th Turkey Investment Conference.
Trade Minister Bolat, who attended the meeting, said in his speech here that even in the current period, when global trade has almost stopped and Turkey is fighting a devastating and strong earthquake, the country has achieved growth of approximately 3.9. percent in the first quarter and 3.8 percent in the second quarter.
Bolat stated that the basis of economic growth is a management approach and strong leadership that encourages production, investment and export, and builds all regulations and institutions on these two priorities.
THE NUMBER OF AMERICAN COMPANIES EXCEEDED 80 THOUSAND
Bolat stated that the number of international companies operating in Turkey was around 6,000 in 2002 and today exceeds 80,000.
“At this point, the interest that American companies have shown in our country in the last 20 years is particularly notable. American investment companies have positioned Turkey as a production and export base and have invested 14.5 billion dollars in our country. In this sense, 2,000 companies from the US, which is the largest foreign investing country after the Netherlands, have provided employment to 110,000 people in Turkey.”
Bolat emphasized that Turkey is a strong partner in terms of diversification of supply chain and supply channels for multinational companies, with its geostrategic location, advanced production capabilities, international free trade networks, equipped and qualified workforce, including investment areas for digital and green transformation.
Minister Bolat said: “Turkey’s basic vision for trade and investment is to become a highly competitive production and trade base by completing the digital and ecological transformation. In this sense, we consider American investors to be important partners.” he said.
PROMISE OF SUPPORT FOR INTERNATIONAL COMPANIES
Pointing out the importance of taking trade and economic relations between Turkey and the United States to higher levels, Bolat recalled that the main goal is to increase trade between the two countries to 100 billion dollars.
Bolat emphasized that they will move forward with determination and firmness towards the goal of joining the world’s 10 largest economies in line with the vision of “Turkey’s century” put forward by President Erdoğan, with the contributions of businessmen.
Stating that they have always supported and will continue to support international companies that invest in Turkey, create jobs and contribute to economic development under the leadership of President Erdoğan, Bolat said that considering the history of relations between Turkey and the US and the potential of the The current period is a period of economic development between the two countries, and stated that they see it as an important opportunity to further develop relations in all areas.
Türkiye-United States RELATIONS
TAİK President Mehmet Ali Yalçındağ also said that they recently witnessed a series of messages indicating that a new and positive climate had emerged in relations between Turkey and the US and that they, as a business world, welcomed with pleasure this activity.
Noting that this momentum creates optimistic expectations in relations, Yalçındağ emphasized that they believe that trade should play the main role in the two countries’ relations in the new period.
Yalçındağ stressed that they, as a business world, are willing to do their part to accelerate this process and said:
“No matter what problems occur in the political arena, we see that our mutual trade continues to increase steadily without being affected by them. Therefore, it is imperative that we continue to strengthen this strong pillar on which relationships rest. In the new process we have entered, the trade goal of 100 billion dollars is not a distant goal. We believe that we should focus on this goal with all our projects and work. We have a very productive period ahead of us.”
After the speeches, ATBR (Turkish-American Business Roundtable) Chairman General James Jones and TAİK Chairman Yalçındağ signed a memorandum of understanding.
Participating in the meeting were Jones Group International, Citigroup, Goldman Sachs, Hillwood, Boeing Global, Pratt & Whitney, Ralph Lauren, Hellman & Friedman, Ford Motor, Epam Systems, Georgette Mosbacher Enterprises, Amazon, Mastercard, General Atlantic, Hill International, Teledyne Senior Flir Defense executives from companies such as Cotton Council International and Microsoft were present.
The meeting was attended by representatives of American companies, as well as Eczacıbaşı Holding, Kibar Holding, Koç Holding, Çolakoğlu Holding, Hepsiburada, Demirören Holding, Çalık Holding, Türk Hava Yolları, Borusan Holding, Sabancı Holding, TAV, Fiba Holding and Türk Telekom. Directors of Turkish companies attended. (AA)