It Is Up To Businessmen To Create A Strong Cooperation Platform, Hisarciklioglu

ISTANBUL - Rifat Hisarciklioglu, chairman of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), said Wednesday in line with integration into the European Union (EU), it is up to the businessmen to create a strong cooperation platform not only within the Balkans but also the surrounding region.
Delivering a keynote speech at the beginning of the First General Assembly meeting of Association of Balkan Chambers (ABC), Hisarciklioglu indicated that Turkey attaches special importance to bilateral relations with the Balkan countries as a country that can not be separated from the Balkans based on its economic ties, common history and culture.
"Turkey`s investments in the Balkans amount to 1.5 billion USD. Currently, 15,000 Turkish companies and 20,000 Turkish businessmen operate in the Balkans. Projects assumed by Turkish contractors in the Balkans are worth 4.5 billion USD. These statistics show Turkey`s strong economic and commercial ties with the Balkans," Hisarciklioglu remarked.
"Regional cooperation in developing economic and commercial activities contributes to peace and stability," Hisarciklioglu noted.
"In the past few years, regional cooperation in the Balkans gained momentum. The implementation of Central European Free Trade Agreement and the establishment of the ABC are examples of such cooperation," Hisarciklioglu underlined.
"As the ABC, we support cooperation with Eurochambers, the Association of Mediterranean Chambers of Commerce and Industry (ASCAME) and Black Sea Economic Cooperation (BSEC). We wish to make the ABC stronger by signing a cooperation agreement with ASCAME," Hisarciklioglu underscored.
"The Mediterranean basin is an important part of the EU and has a great economic potential. The Mediterranean Business Partneria that will take place in Antalya between May 15th and 18th will establish an important platform for regional cooperation," Hisarciklioglu said.
The Mediterranean Business Partneria will benefit producers and small and medium scale businesses (SMEs) and will be a big match making event for national and international companies from Turkey and abroad, Hisarciklioglu told.
"300 buyers from 44 countries and 10 diverse sectors will arrive in Antalya for the Mediterranean Business Partneria," Hisarciklioglu emphasized.
"With high development rates, quality human resources, manufacture of many goods, good service and rich resources, Balkan countries attract the attention of the whole globe," Hisarciklioglu said.

(SOL-MS)