ISTANBUL (AA) - Turkish Union of Chambers of Commerce & Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) Chairman Rifat Hisarciklioglu stated that it is time that citizens of Islamic countries should look in the mirror. ''What we need is a permanent change of mentality,'' said Hisarciklioglu.
The Business Forum, organized as part of the Organization of Islamic Conference (OIC) Economy Conference, has begun in Istanbul with the participation of businessmen from member states. Hisarciklioglu briefed the audience on the activities of TOBB. ''Turkey wants close bilateral trade ties with her brothers in the region. We are for more financial cooperation with countries with which we share common values,'' told Hisarciklioglu. ''To promote business ties, depending solely on bureaucrats is not enough. We want to talk to our businessmen brothers directly and conduct business personally.''
Rifat Hisarciklioglu noted that the share of Islamic countries in world production is a mere five percent. ''Islamic countries attract foreign investments of 15 billion U.S. dollars annually,'' remarked Hisarciklioglu. According to him, ''out of the 48 most underdeveloped countries in the world, 22 are Islamic.''
Hisarciklioglu has reminded the forum that democratization of the markets is very important. ''Turkey is EU's sixth biggest trade partner and is among the 20 most developed economies of the world,'' expressed Hisarciklioglu. ''Trade does not cause separation. Instead, it unifies people. We no longer wish to live in a region where only soldiers are active but to live in a geography where businessmen and businesswomen are strongly active.''
(ES)
2004-11-23