President Erdoğan: I believe that YASED will continue its constructive role on the path to our ideal of great and strong Turkey
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sent a video message to the International Investment Summit, organized by the International Investors Association (YASED) which marks its 40th foundation anniversary.
“I believe that YASED will continue its constructive role on the path to our ideal of great and strong Turkey. We will continue to support every effort that will ensure the technological transformation of our country and increase its export capacity,” President Erdoğan said.
Noting that the coronavirus pandemic, which affected our country as well as the whole world, continued to spread in waves, President Erdoğan said: “We see that countries such as Turkey, which have a strong health infrastructure and a solid social security system, manage the destructive effects of the pandemic more easily.”
“ALTHOUGH MANY COUNTRIES EXPERIENCE ECONOMIC STAGNATION DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, THE TURKISH ECONOMY IS ENGAGED IN A SUCCESSFUL RECOVERY PERIOD”
“While on the one hand, we strengthen our health care system with new hospitals, on the other, we support our entrepreneurs, tradesmen and disadvantaged groups with the Economic Stability Shield and Social Protection Shield Packages. Not only do we avoid the slightest compromise to our nation’s health, but we also stand clear of thoughtless measures that would have a heavy toll on our nation. Although many countries are experiencing economic stagnation as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, the Turkish economy is engaged in a successful recovery period. We consider the strong growth rate that we achieved in the third quarter to be a testament to the success of our country in this period,” President Erdoğan stated.
Highlighting that the pandemic, which upset the world’s balances, opened new windows of opportunity for countries with high production capacity, such as Turkey, President Erdoğan said: “With its geographical location, strong infrastructure and resistance to shocks, Turkey is one of the most advantageous countries in evaluating these opportunities. I believe that our country offers very important advantages, especially for international investors looking for an alternative to the Asia-centred production network.”
“According to purchasing power parity, we are the 13th largest country in the world and the 7th largest in the OECD. We are the sixth most visited country in the world, hosting more than 50 million visitors every year. In the World Bank’s 2020 Ease of Doing Business Index ranking, we have progressed 27 steps, only in the last two years. In a period when direct investment is declining all over the world, we have become one of the rare countries that have increased its investment. In 2018, when global direct investments declined by 12%, direct investments coming to our country increased by 17.3% and exceeded 13 billion dollars. We see the direct investment of 220 billion dollars that we have attracted since 2002 as a manifestation of the trust of international entrepreneurs in Turkey,” President Erdoğan said.
“WE OWE ALL OUR GAINS IN THE PAST 18 YEARS IN ECONOMY, TRADE AND INVESTMENT TO THE STEPS WE HAVE TAKEN IN DEMOCRACY AND THE LAW”
President Erdoğan continued his remarks as follows: “We owe all the gains we have made in the last 18 years in the economy, trade and investment to the steps we have taken in democracy and the law. The secret of our success is to support growth and development with democracy, to strengthen political trust and stability by empowering the state of law. Despite all the attacks we have been subjected to, we have never given up on the ideal of a stronger, more prosperous, more democratic Turkey. We have engaged the civil society. We have motivated our public institutions, our bureaucracy. We have held consultation meetings. We have exerted great efforts to solve the deadlocks. In the end, we have introduced Turkey to the biggest democracy and development move in the history of the Republic.”
Noting that anyone who put their hands on their hearts today could see that Turkey was in a place which was unprecedented compared to 18 years ago, President Erdoğan said: “Of course, we do not find the place we have reached to be sufficient; we continue our struggle by saying, ‘Always reviving ourselves, whoever would get weary of us’.”
“OUR DOORS ARE OPEN TO EVERYONE WHO HAS AN IDEA OR CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM FOR TURKEY’S DEVELOPMENT AND GROWTH”
“For this purpose, we have initiated efforts for a new reform in law, democracy and economy in our country. We wish to manage this process on the broadest ground and with the most comprehensive consensus without excluding anyone. Our doors are open to everyone who has something to say, an idea or constructive criticism for Turkey’s development and growth. Our country will be able to reach its goals for 2023 only with the support of 83 million. It is compulsory that 83 million be one and together and walk into the future together for a strong economy and for the bread on our table to grow even more.” President Erdoğan noted.
“WE WILL FURTHER IMPROVE THE INVESTMENT ENVIRONMENT WITH ADDITIONAL REFORMS”
“We are fully aware of the critical role that international direct investment plays in Turkey’s achievement of its objectives,” President Erdoğan underscored. “We are determined to make our country a centre of attraction for domestic and international investors with low risk, high confidence and satisfactory earnings. In the upcoming period, we will further improve the investment environment with additional reforms in this area.”
Underscoring that they had never seen and never would see international entrepreneurs as “foreign” investors, President Erdoğan said: “Whichever opportunity we provide for our people, we provide them for all entrepreneurs who rely on Turkey and who trust the investment environment in Turkey. From the defence industry to food and from the digital economy to the health care sector; we promote the investments with high added value that will lead to Turkey’s technological transformation.”
Addressing investors from across the world, President Erdoğan said: “I invite the investors all around the world by saying ‘Come and see Turkish hospitality’. I would like you to know that our relevant ministries and the Investment Office of the Presidency are ready to provide you with all the necessary support. As I conclude my words with these thoughts, I thank YASED once again for this wonderful meeting and wish success in their work.”
