“We are continuing our economic progress at full pace”
Addressing the Türkiye-Pakistan Business Forum, President Erdoğan said: “As we are erasing the traces of the earthquake, we are also continuing our economic progress at full pace. With 262 billion dollars in 2024, we reached the last 100 years’ highest figure in exports.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan made a speech at the Türkiye-Pakistan Business Forum.
“OUR BILATERAL TRADE IS STRENGTHENING YEAR BY YEAR”
President Erdoğan said: “I am delighted to attend this meeting with my treasured brother Prime Minister Sharif. I pray to Allah that this meeting, which brings the two countries’ business communities together, may result in auspicious outcomes. The bonds of love between our countries serve as a foundation that is favorable to fully unleash the potential of our trade and economic relations. Our bilateral trade is strengthening year by year. Our bilateral trade volume in 2024 reached around 1.4 billion dollars, the highest level to date, increasing by about 30 percent compared to the previous year. However, we are still far behind our target of 5 billion dollars in trade volume. We have a collective duty to fully realize our potential. In this regard, I believe that expanding the scope of our preferential trade agreement to evolve into a free trade agreement would be conducive to a stable and balanced increase in our trade volume. Accordingly, our trade ministers have signed a joint declaration confirming our intention in this direction today.”
President Erdoğan stated: “It is of particular importance for us to enhance our intermodal freight transport, diversify our transport capabilities, and make progress in road and rail transportation. Reactivating the Islamabad-Tehran-Istanbul freight train line and implementing, through a holistic view, projects along the routes of the Middle Corridor, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor, and the Development Road would benefit the entire region. With its dynamic population nearing 250 million, with its agriculture-friendly lands, and with its location that is of strategic importance in terms of international trade, Pakistan is one of the top candidates to be a major economy of the future. Transforming year by year, Pakistan’s economy is expected to undertake in the upcoming period critical projects in energy as well as in agriculture, healthcare and infrastructure. As Türkiye, we are making our preparations according to this vision. Today, over 50 Turkish companies from both the private and public sectors are operating in Pakistan. As you know, we are number two globally in construction services. In Pakistan, Turkish companies have carried out projects with a total value of nearly 3.5 billion dollars in the areas of construction and technical consultancy. We hope the investments with Pakistan, where the Turkish investment already exceeds 2 billion dollars, increase even further. I hereby would like to invite Pakistani companies to Türkiye to benefit from our investment incentives. The Presidency’s Investment Office will guide you throughout the process.”
“Let me note that as politicians and statesmen, our duty is to help our business communities, clear the path in front of them, and remove the barriers in their way. We have done so to date. We have provided all sorts of support to help our investors fully benefit from the trade and economic cooperation opportunities between our two countries. Thankfully, we have covered a significant distance in a short span of time as a result of our joint efforts. We will make much more progress. We will reap the fruits of the Türkiye-Pakistan cooperation in many areas including trade and investments,” the President noted.
“JUST AS YOU STOOD BY US, WE WILL ALSO STAND BY YOU WHENEVER YOU NEED US”
President Erdoğan said: “On February 6, 2023, we experienced one of the most massive natural disasters in our history. We lost over 53 thousand lives in two earthquakes of 7.7 and 7.6 magnitude that occurred within a very short time of one another. As has been in every period throughout history, we have felt the Pakistani people’s support, prayers, and solidarity by our side since the first moment. I would like to once again thank the people of Pakistan through my brother Sharif.”
President Erdoğan stressed: “Just as you stood by us, we will also stand by you whenever you need us. Last Thursday marked the second anniversary of the earthquake. Let me note that despite the earthquake’s direct cost of nearly 104 billion dollars and indirect cost of nearly 150 billion dollars on the Turkish economy, we are rapidly healing our wounds. We are moving forward with firm steps towards our goals in economy, production, employment, investments, tourism, and defense industry. Less than two years after the earthquake, we have already delivered the key of the 201 thousandth home to its owner, whose house was destroyed. By the beginning of the new year, we will inshallah have built 252 thousand more houses and overcome this heavy burden.”
President Erdoğan continued his remarks as follows: “As we are erasing the traces of the earthquake, we are also continuing our economic progress at full pace. With 262 billion dollars in 2024, we reached the last 100 years’ highest figure in exports. Creating employment for 986 thousand more people in the last year, we increased the number of the employed to 32 million 748 thousand. In tourism, we hosted over 62 million people in our country. Our Central Bank’s reserves are constantly enlarging. We have made these achievements despite the hot conflicts in our region and the uncertainties in global markets.”
“GAZA BELONGS TO OUR GAZAN BROTHERS AND SISTERS AND IT WILL REMAIN SO FOREVER”
“On December 8, the 13.5-year-long conflicts and oppression in our neighbor Syria were replaced by an atmosphere filled with hope. Working in collaboration with the new administration, we will start a totally new era in economy, trade and investments in Syria,” President Erdoğan stated. “As you know, after Syria, we also received good news from Gaza on January 19. A temporary ceasefire was declared in Gaza, also with our contributions, following 15 months of massacres and genocide committed by Israel. The ceasefire agreement unfortunately hit a dead end the previous day because of Israel’s failure to keep its promises even though the Palestinians fulfill their commitments. We see that our region is yet again being drawn into bloodshed and suffering.”
President Erdoğan underlined: “I would like to re-emphasize that Gaza belongs to our Gazan brothers and sisters and it will remain so forever. The homeland of the Palestinians, for which they have sacrificed their tens of thousands of children, is not open to negotiation. I wholeheartedly believe that the alliance of humanity, especially the Arab and Islamic world, won't leave Gazans alone and unprotected during this critical period. We will continue to do our part in every area to prevent the recurrence of yet another Nakba.”
“WE WILL WORK TIRELESSLY TO LEAVE OUR CHILDREN A MORE PROSPEROUS AND MORE POWERFUL TÜRKİYE AND PAKISTAN”
Noting that Türkiye and Pakistan are located in a geography that is as tough as it is strategic, President Erdoğan said: “We confront significant challenges in a wide range of areas from security to economy due to the incidents transpiring around us. Nevertheless, we have more than enough power, will, determination and capacity to overcome all the obstacles and hardships we face. Türkiye and Pakistan are the two countries that can provide the biggest contribution to peace, stability and development in this geography in many areas if they join forces. To this end, we will firmly stick to our goals. We will focus on opportunities instead of hardships. We will not get crushed under difficulties and will rather endeavor to find solutions. We will work tirelessly to leave our children a happier, more prosperous and more powerful Türkiye and Pakistan. May Allah help us.”
President Erdoğan added: “With these thoughts in my mind, I wish for the documents we signed within the scope of the 7th meeting of the High Level Strategic Cooperation Council to help us achieve our goals in the shortest possible span of time. I believe that our trade and investment cooperation in construction, municipality, solar and wind energy, health tourism, the halal industry, and information and communication technologies will further strengthen through our collective efforts. I would like to reaffirm our will to support our respective business communities in their mutual investments and joint efforts. I hope that the talks we held as part of the Business Forum may lead to auspicious outcomes for our countries and region.”
