Kacır: Turkey Ready for Cooperation with All Balkan Countries
The Minister of Industry and Technology, Mehmet Fatih Kacır, stated that Turkey is a productive and reliable harbor for investors, highlighting its geopolitical position, qualified human resources, and strong logistics and trade infrastructure. He emphasized, "While the per capita national income in continental Europe is around $50,000, we do not accept, nor should we accept, the approximately $15,000 level in the neighboring Balkans. Turkey, which has been an important commercial partner of Europe for decades through the Customs Union, is ready for cooperation with all Balkan countries. The organized industrial zones (OIZs) of Edirne, Tekirdağ, Kırklareli, and all our cities present significant opportunities for all Balkan firms. We have the capacity to export the products we will produce together, via the Customs Union, to a wide geography extending from Europe to the Middle East and Africa. Turkey, with its population of 85 million, is a market in itself, and Istanbul, being the city with the most flight connections worldwide, is a crucial link to the world. Let's produce together and gain together."
Minister Kacır spoke at the Balkans Business and Investment Forum, hosted by the Edirne Governorate, under the auspices of the Ministry of Trade and the Ministry of Industry and Technology, and supported by the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) and the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TIM). He noted that the world is going through a challenging period marked by global and regional tectonic shifts, facing many political, military, economic, and social challenges. Kacır pointed out that the rising geopolitical tensions, particularly the Russia-Ukraine War adjacent to the Balkans and the situation in the Middle East, have increased uncertainties in the global economy and geography. He further stated:
CLIMATE OF TRUST: The international system, still bearing the traces of the Cold War, is not only failing to establish a climate of stability and trust but is also exacerbating injustices and security issues, with consecutive economic turbulences threatening societal welfare.
RISK FACTOR: We are facing a scenario characterized by a wave of protectionism in trade and technology resulting from the reshaping of global supply chains post-pandemic. The negative divergence of the European economy from the rest of the world in recent years poses a risk factor against the sustainable growth of the regional economy, which tightens integration with Europe.
ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE TECHNOLOGY: Economies that fail to catch up with digital and green transformation will inevitably encounter serious structural challenges on their development journey, straying from sustainable growth. Rapid advancements in artificial intelligence technology pose a threat to traditional technologies and professions.
DIALOGUE AND COMMON BENEFIT: As Turkey, we have established many new collaboration mechanisms in the Balkan region in recent years with this understanding. We have demonstrated a stance prioritizing dialogue and common benefit. As the largest economy in the Balkans, we are always ready to share the experience and knowledge gained during the construction of our strong production and technology development infrastructure.
TURKEY'S DEVELOPMENT JOURNEY: We believe that the achievements, experience, and capacity gained in the economy can only develop through collaborations. My counterparts and businesspeople here today, as well as our friends in the Balkans, are among the closest witnesses of the progress Turkey has made in its development journey under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan over the past 22 years.
R&D AND INNOVATION ECOSYSTEM: We have increased the number of our organized industrial zones, in which we are among the best practitioners in the world, from 191 to 362 during this period. Today, 6.7 million of our citizens are employed in the industrial sector, with 2.7 million of them in our OIZs. We have established an effective R&D incentive mechanism and built a massive R&D and innovation ecosystem almost from scratch. We equipped Turkey with 104 technoparks and over 1,600 R&D and design centers, achieving significant gains in technology development and production.
LEADER OF EUROPE: With Turkey's car Togg, we have realized our nation's 60-year dream of a domestic and national automobile. We have classified our country among the 11 nations that can develop and produce their own communication satellites. In the post-pandemic period, where global investment appetite has decreased, Turkey has become a productive and reliable harbor for investors, thanks to its geopolitical position, qualified human resources, and strong logistics and trade infrastructure. Today, Turkey leads Europe in many fields, including white goods production, flat glass production, solar panel manufacturing, commercial vehicle production, cement, and iron and steel.
INTERNATIONAL INVESTMENTS: Before 2003, Turkey attracted an average of only 0.2% of global direct investments, averaging around 1 billion dollars annually. However, in the post-2003 period, it succeeded in attracting about 1% of global investments. Approximately 270 billion dollars of international direct investment occurred in our country over the last 22 years. We achieved this by believing that "one cannot succeed without benefiting their partner."
PRINCIPLE OF WINNING TOGETHER: In recent months, BYD, the world's largest electric vehicle manufacturer, announced that it will establish a facility capable of producing 150,000 electric vehicles annually and an R&D center for innovative green technologies in our country. Discussions with global firms indicate that similar scale and quality investments are on the horizon. Behind this, as previously mentioned, lies the principle of winning together and honest, fair partnerships.
INVITATION FOR COOPERATION: We do not accept, nor should we accept, the approximately $15,000 per capita national income in the Balkans while it stands at around $50,000 in continental Europe, just a few hundred kilometers away. Turkey, which has been an important trading partner of Europe for decades through the Customs Union, is ready for cooperation with all Balkan countries.
CONNECTING POINT: The OIZs of Edirne, Tekirdağ, Kırklareli, and all our cities provide important opportunities for all Balkan firms. We have the capacity to export the products we will produce together to a wide geography extending from Europe to the Middle East and Africa, thanks to the Customs Union. Turkey, with its population of 85 million, is a market in itself, and Istanbul, the city with the most flight connections worldwide, is a connecting point to the world. Let's produce together and gain together.
INVALUABLE OPPORTUNITIES: The new technologies and startup universe that transcend geography and borders are full of invaluable opportunities for all of us. Currently, Turkey boasts seven startups that have surpassed a billion-dollar valuation, what we term as 'Tucorn'. We know that adding new ones to this list requires integrating startup ecosystems and establishing cross-border partnerships. Therefore, we are striving for the integration of our technology ecosystem with the Balkans. History and geography compel us towards this. I believe that today, as Balkan countries, we are united by our will to overcome challenges together and to evaluate the emerging opportunities jointly.