Bilal Erdogan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ilim Yayma Foundation, said, “Today, we are progressing at such a pace that Turkey has caught such a window of opportunity that it will probably soon become a country that exports $1 billion every working day before it takes 6 months and 1 year.”
Bilal Erdogan, Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Ilim Yayma Foundation, said that Turkey will soon become a country that exports $1 billion every working day.
At the closing of the Turkey Entrepreneurs Meeting Summit held at the Selcuklu Congress Center under the auspices of the Presidency, Erdogan reminded that Turkey has exceeded $220 billion in exports.
Expressing that Turkey’s exports were around $30 billion 20 years ago, Erdogan said, “Today we are progressing at such a pace that Turkey has caught such a window of opportunity that it will probably soon become a country that exports $1 billion every working day before it takes 6 months and 1 year.”
Pointing to the many investments Turkey has made in infrastructure, Erdogan said:
“The people of Konya know very well how developed organized industrial zones, railways, highways, schools, hospitals, urban rail systems are in Konya, but we know that they exist all over Turkey. The purpose of these is, of course, to ensure that our people live at the level of the prosperous nations of the world. However, besides this, we see a Turkey that has ensured the improvement of the investment environment, the integration of raw materials and markets, the integration of production centers with transportation centers, and expansion into international markets at the same time.”
“THE TARGETED OF $500 BILLION IN EXPORT CAN ALSO BE ACHIEVED”
Pointing out that it is talked about that Turkey has caught a window of opportunity in the economic conditions brought by the epidemic conditions, Erdogan said:
“This has now caught a period of growth in which Turkey grows not by borrowing but by giving a current account surplus, export-based growth comes to the fore, the value-added gradually increases and is reflected in exports, and this is reinforced by higher quality employment. Imagine that exports, which are $220 billion today, have reached $500 billion. There will probably be those who say that $500 billion is a dream today. Believe me, I knew and saw those who said that $100 billion was a dream while Turkey was making $30 billion. If $220 billion were achieved today, of course, $500 billion can be achieved.”
“I AM THE CHILD OF A SECTION THAT HAS BEEN OTHERIZED FOR YEARS FOR ‘FAITH'”
Stating that TUGVA is struggling to raise a local, national, faithful and values-based youth, Erdogan said:
“I know that they do not discriminate in this. On the one hand, those who make polarization literature in Turkey, and those who watch other groups clash with each other, should stop marginalizing people. Let’s talk a little about why there are no conservative people in their plazas. While someone in Turkey talks about the marginalization of others, Turkey’s big companies and rich people should give an account of why a headscarf can never work in their plazas and buildings. Then it will be better revealed who is polarizing and who is not. I have been the child of a group that has been marginalized for years as ‘believers’, but today we are struggling to reach everyone without marginalizing anyone in the foundations I am a part of. I hope that these will be better understood and appreciated.”
6 OF 100 PROJECTS HAVE AGREEMENT IN PRINCIPLE WITH ITS INVESTORS
Mehmet Koc, President of the Entrepreneurial Businessmen Foundation (GIV), stated that the study was the result of a long effort.
Noting that 100 of the 670 projects that applied to the summit were selected and took part in the exhibition, Koc said:
“Our entrepreneurs made their presentations in the exhibition area for two days. The meeting of 6 entrepreneurs and investors on the roof of our event is a pride for us. It means that if these studies are expanded and enlarged, many entrepreneurs will have new projects and many investors will have new venture studies. As good news, I can say that the projects that have applied and been evaluated in just two years have increased both in quantity and quality since 2018. This means that entrepreneurship comes to the forefront in our country and in our geography, which means that while our young people are making career plans for their future, they no longer only think about graduating from school and finding a job, but also about starting a new business.”
“WE WILL CONTINUE WORKING TOWARDS GOOD WORKS”
TUGVA President Enes Eminoglu stated that the program attended by entrepreneurs from all over Turkey will be crowned with an award ceremony.
Reminding that the program was held under the auspices of the Presidency, Eminoglu said, “I hope our young people will contribute to great works and initiatives for the future of Turkey, its homeland, nation, flag, country and geography with determination, faith, motivation and enthusiasm. With the mission that the whole geography expects from us, we will continue to work to achieve even better works. I congratulate our youth.”
KOSGEB President Hasan Basri Kurt pointed out that the interest in the program was high, and underlined that they support entrepreneurs, R&D and all studies that will contribute to value-added production and citizens.
After the speeches, the 8th GIV Entrepreneurship Awards were given to their owners by the protocol members.
Deputy Minister of Health Suayip Birinci, AK Party Deputy Selman Ozboyaci, Metropolitan Mayor Ugur Ibrahim Altay, Governor Vahdettin Ozkan, rectors, business people, young entrepreneurs and students attended the program.
Source: Sabah / Translated by Irem Yildiz