The 15th meeting of the Advisory Board was held via video conference under the chairmanship of Minister of Commerce Ruhsar Pekcan.
According to the statement made by the Ministry of Commerce, the meeting was attended by Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), İsmail Gülle, President of the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM), Bendevi Palandöken, Chairman of the Confederation of Turkish Tradesmen and Craftsmen (TESK), Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TESK). TÜSİAD) President Simone Kaslowski, Independent Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (MÜSİAD) President Abdurrahman Kaan, International Investors Association (YASED) President Ayşem Sargın and Turkish Contractors Association (TMB) President Mithat Yenigün attended.
In her speech at the meeting, Pekcan stated that the consultation meetings, which accelerated during the new type of coronavirus (Covid-19) epidemic, were very productive and that they evaluated the requests they received, worked to solve the problems, and followed up the requests that concern other institutions and organizations by forwarding them to the relevant authorities. .
Stating that the agenda of the meeting was global trade chains, Pekcan said, “The world is now looking for a new address in the global supply and value chain. Turkey offers a real potential in this sense. Hopefully, it is possible for us to turn this into an opportunity for our country with the right and determined steps we will take together. The right strategies here.” “We must monitor and focus on activities to increase our production and exports.” made his assessment.
Referring to specialized free zones, Pekcan stated that they have prepared incentive mechanisms for these areas to enable more value-added production and increase technology-oriented investments and related exports.
Stating that they registered the free zone at Ataturk Airport as the first specialized free zone and determined the field of expertise of this place as the IT sector, Pekcan noted that the specialized free zones will serve as one-stop zones for investors, where bureaucracy is reduced.
Pekcan pointed out that, with the decision published in the Official Gazette, they will provide interest and dividend support for a maximum of 10 years to the main investor companies that will establish these zones, not exceeding 50 percent of the fixed investment amount, and also supports such as rent and qualified employment, as well as income, institutions, etc. He emphasized that the opportunity to benefit from customs duties and VAT exemptions will be offered.
Pointing out that they plan to bring together young entrepreneurs and companies that will make technology-oriented investments in specialized free zones, Pekcan said, “We also invite the business partners of our non-governmental organizations (NGOs) to these places as investors. In this context, we expect the active support of our NGOs.” he said.
“Now it’s time to focus on new goals”
Reminding that Turkey entered the normalization process as of June 1, Pekcan continued as follows:
“Gradually, the economy will start to get back on track. We started to recover from May. When we look at it, the Purchasing Managers Index (PMI), which was at 33.4 in April, increased by 7.5 points to 40.9 points in May, the economic confidence index increased by 20.4 percent in May to 61, The consumer confidence index increased by 8.5 percent to 59.5, and the retail trade sector confidence index increased by 5 percent to 79. If we look at our foreign trade figures, we closed May with an increase of 10.8 percent compared to April. While the coverage rate was 74.6 in the first 5 months, this rate rises to 79.9 percent excluding gold. Turkey ranked first among G20 and OECD countries with a growth of 4.5 percent in the first quarter of the year. The negative effects of the pandemic will be seen in the second quarter, but starting from the third quarter “We expect a recovery in Turkey. Therefore, it is time to focus on new targets.”
Providing information about the work carried out since the last consultation meeting, Pekcan noted that they started a joint study with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, business council presidents and TMB regarding giving priority to African countries in humanitarian aid. Pekcan said, “We want to further develop our relations by bringing aid to these places under the leadership of our business people and by supporting them in their difficult times.” he said.
“Interest in virtual trade delegations and fairs is above expectations”
Pekcan stated that virtual trade delegations and virtual fairs continue successfully and that they attract more attention than they expected and said, “We have also achieved successful results here compared to physical, that is, conventional fair organizing. Because our business people come here not just to travel, but for a goal, a purpose, and if they find their interlocutor, they will do this.” can turn it into business.” made his assessment.
Pointing out that the importance of e-commerce, digitalization and the service sector was seen better in Turkey, as in the rest of the world, during the epidemic period, Pekcan said:
“As the Ministry, we have taken steps on this issue much earlier. We created the trust mark in e-Commerce portals and determined TOBB as the trust seal provider. Apart from this, our ETBİS system will be updated next week.”
We will launch it and publish e-commerce statistics for the first time in Turkey. “We have launched our electronic document application in MERSİS and now trade registers can be obtained online.”
Pekcan stated that they are carrying out studies under the coordination of the Ministry of Health regarding the rules to be followed during the normalization period, and that the regulations regarding weddings and marriages have been implemented and that regulations regarding fairs are also being worked on.
Reminding that they increased the number of installments in some white goods and tourism, Pekcan stated that they continue to consult with sectoral associations, exporters’ unions and business organizations.
Pekcan said that they continued their international contacts in the virtual environment without slowing down, and in this context, they had very productive meetings with the relevant ministers from China, South Korea, Finland, Romania and Hungary in the last two weeks.
Informing that they have started digital chat meetings that bring together the business world with trade consultants working abroad, Pekcan said, “In this context, we have held meetings with trade consultants from China, Russia, Iran, Iraq and Azerbaijan, and these will continue. Our trade consultants will be waiting for the demands of our business people.” he said.
