Tag: TIM

Turkey’s leading civil society organizations join forces against PKK

TOBB’s Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu (C) calls for unity against PKK attacks. AA photo

A major rally is being planned for Istanbul on Oct. 30, with organizers aiming to bring together 1 million people to march against escalating acts of terrorism in the wake of bloody attacks last week, according to an announcement by 24 nongovernmental organizations. The group includes some of the country’s most influential business circles and trade chambers and represents a broad swath of society.

“We will hold a great march in Istanbul on Oct. 30 under the leadership of professional organizations, confederations of trade unions and associations with the support of our political parties. We will only raise our flag with its crescent and star, the symbol of our unity and integrity,” Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, president of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) said at a press conference yesterday.

The country’s civil society, mainly the professional organizations and business circles, have been mobilized after the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK ) killed 24 troops in Çukurca province of Hakkari on Iraqi border in a move to show public resistance to terrorism.

Hisarcıklıoğlu said they have established the “Platform for a Call for Unity” with 24 organizations but that the venue was open for anyone who wanted to take part in the initiative. Along with TOBB, which has more than 1.5 million members, prominent business organization the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD), the Workers’ Union Confederation (Türk-İş), the Bars Union (TBB) and the Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) have joined the platform. Leaders of these organizations visited President Abdullah Gül, Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and all opposition parties on Oct.21 to share their plans to hold the rally.

“We saw that all political leaders in Turkey shares similar sensibilities against terrorism despite daily political disputes. Their common ground is our unity, integrity and fraternity. This is promising,” Hisarcıklıoğlu said. “We invite those who have the same feelings as us to this great march. We will walk altogether despite these dirty games. We invite everyone because it won’t happen without you.”

It was not yet clear if leaders of the political parties would also take part in the march, but the platform intends to invite all of them. However, no party banners or flags can be raised during the march, the platform states. Details of the march will be announced this week.

Despite wide representation, the Confederation of Revolutionary Trade Unions (DİSK), the Confederation of Public Sector Trade Unions (KESK) and the Turkish Engineers’ and Architects’ Chambers (TMMOB), known to be critical of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP), have not joined the platform.

Hisarcıklıoğlu said they have not excluded anyone. “We have invited all societal organizations and our invitation is still valid. We want to march arm in arm with everyone,” he said. Reportedly, KESK and DİSK officials are set to discuss joining the platform.

Change in plans

The platform has changed its initial plan to hold simultaneous marches in the country’s seven regions after President Gül convinced them that such an initiative could face provocations in some regions, Turkish media reported.

“We have no such fear. We are engaged in this in the name of 74 million people,” Hisarcıklıoğlu said, adding that they will act together in every part of the country when required. Another reason for holding only one march is to concentrate the density and public attention on one march only so that its influence can be multiplied, the Daily News has learned.

via Turkey’s leading civil society organizations join forces against PKK – Hurriyet Daily News.

October 24, 2011
Chinese investors preparing for massive Turkish investments

ISTANBUL – Anatolia News Agency

Turkish Exporters Assemly, or TİM, President Mehmet Büyükekşi (L) gives a gift to Minister Nihat Ergün at a meeting Tuesday.

Four Chinese companies are poised to make investments in Turkey, Turkish Industry and Trade Minister Nihat Ergün said Tuesday, adding that his country could anticipate similar attention from the East Asian giant in the future.

“Four new companies including leading construction machinery manufacturer Sany are about to make the final decision to make investments in Turkey,” Ergün said Tuesday in Istanbul in an address to the Turkish Exporters Assembly, or TİM.

“Based on our impression from the meetings we’ve had and the information at hand, more Chinese companies will follow these four companies,” he said.

The four initial companies are expected to provide investments in excess $400 million,” Ergün said.

“At the meetings [with Chinese businesspeople], our colleagues noticed that Chinese producers of replacement machinery parts are deeply interested in Turkey,” he said. “Turkish companies have been invited to a large machinery fair in China.”

Turkish companies, half of which do not have a website, according to data provided by the Turkish Statistics Institute, or TurkStat, should focus on information technologies as costs fall in the developing sector, Ergün said.

The ministry plans to organize round-table meetings with the representatives of all sectors in Turkey to improve communication.

Turkey was one of the countries that successfully coped with the global crisis, setting a model for the others, he said.

The Turkish economy, which recorded 11-percent growth in the first half of 2010, lured in foreign direct investments and has become one of the most trusted economies in the globe, the minister said.

The industrial production of the country and the capacity usage rate has almost reached the level it enjoyed before the crisis, he said.

Noting that Turkish exporters could visit over 50 countries with a three-hour flight, Ergün said exporters had key responsibilities in strengthening the economic power of the country.

“Turkey’s exports target for 2011 in its middle-term planning is $127 billion,” Ergün said.

“But I personally believe Turkey will reach the 2008 figures if the global economy does not face a second dip,” he said.

December 1, 2010
Turkish exports surpass $10 billion in October

GÖKHAN KURTARAN

SİVAS – Hürriyet Daily News

Turkey’s top exporters, including Mehmet Büyükekşi (C), speak at a press conference in Sivas on Nov. 1, 2010.

Turkey’s exports rose to $10.79 billion in October – the highest monthly amount in the past 10 months, the chairman of the Turkish Exporters’ Assembly, or TİM, said Monday.

Turkey’s exports during the January-October period reached $92.6 billion, showing an 11.41 percent increase compared to the same period last year, TİM head Mehmet Büyükekşi said in the Central Anatolian province of Sivas. “Total exports in the past 12 months have grown by 9.12 percent, increasing to $111.63 billion.”

Büyükekşi also said the figures represent an 8.84-percent increase compared to the same period a year ago.

The champion sector in October was automotives, reaching an export volume of $1.69 billion. It was followed by the ready-wear and iron and steel industries, with volumes of $1.37 billion and $1.18 billion, respectively.

Exports of agricultural products reached $1.51 billion with a share of 14.03 percent in total exports. The volume of industrial exports, with a share of 82.64 percent, rose to $8.92 billion. Mining sector exports increased to $359 million, with a share of 3.33 percent in overall exports.

“The highest rise was seen in the mining sector with 68 percent, in leather products with 49.79 percent and animal products with 24.74 percent in October,” said Büyükekşi, adding that the highest amount of exports were achieved by Istanbul, with $5 billion.

The northwestern province of Bursa ranked second with nearly $1 billion, followed by Kocaeli, İzmir, Ankara, Manisa, Gaziantep, Denizli, Sakarya and Hatay. The top exporters list did not include Sivas, a city of half a million people.

Germany’s recovery a big boost

Foreign sales to Germany, Turkey’s main export market, rose 24.2 percent in October. Büyükekşi said the considerable growth of Germany, the best performing country in the eurozone, paved the way for the sharp increase in Turkey’s exports.

According to TİM figures, Turkey increased its exports to Britain by 20.9 percent, to the Netherlands by 11 percent and to Romania by 10.1 percent in October, on an annual basis.

Addressing journalists, Büyükekşi said increasing exports to regional markets was also important in reaching long-term economic targets.

“Turkey increased exports to Iraq by 25 percent, to Russia by 49 percent, to the United Arab Emirates by 70 percent, to Saudi Arabia by 53 percent and to Syria by 13 percent in October,” he said.

Exports to the United States rose 21 percent, to China 90 percent, to Canada 114 percent and to Japan 18 percent, according to TİM data.

Speaking after the TİM chief, Osman Yıldırım, chairman of the Sivas Chamber of Industry and Commerce, said the city has been developing rapidly since 2004. He called on authorities to complete a highway project between Sivas and the northern province of Ordu, located in the Black Sea region. “This road can connect the city to the Black Sea and pave the way for considerable growth in exports.”

November 2, 2010