The Republic has great goals for its centennial anniversary,
2023: Becoming one of the world’s top 10 economies; 500 billion
USD in exports; increasing its high-tech product ratio of exports to
20%; becoming the production center for Eurasia’s mid- and high-
tech product needs. In order to achieve these goals, Turkey must
leave behind the perception that it is a country which failed in its
transition, product-oriented, dependent, subject to price in regards
to competition; it must attain the position of a country which directs
the market with its own unique high-tech design and production. The
only way to achieve this is through R&D and establishing innovation
focused organizations.
The world’s leaders in high-tech all play for market leading
positions in their regions. Behind the success of these companies,
indubitably, is R&D. It is important to draw R&D investments
to Turkey in order to transition from high-tech importing and
consuming to being a country which creates added value. The
momentum Turkey has gained in this regard in the automobile sector
needs to be emulated in other sectors as well.
EKONOMİK
FORUM
129
i
Mehmet Baybulat AŞETEY
TOBB Bilgi Erişim Uzman Yardımcısı
Ô
Target 2023:
Not without R&D!
Nicosia Economic Forum was held in Istanbul.
Representatives of Turkish, Greek, Turkish Cypriot and
Greek Cypriot business communities which make up the
Forum have declared that the support the resolution
process started by the leaders of the Cyprus peoples
for a just and sustainable solution to the issue of the
Island. A list of suggestions were presented at the end
of the meeting which aim to turn the buffer zone into a
place for the two peoples to come together instead of a
separation zone.
The joint declaration was read by TOBB President
M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu at the press conference attended
by The Turkish Cypriot Chamber of Commerce (KKTO)
President Fikri Toros, Cypriot Chamber of Commerce
President Phidias Pilides, Hellenic Chambers Association
President Constantine Michalos as well as many business
people.
Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that they’ve decided to
establish an Arbitration Center to resolve disputes
between the business people of the two sides.
Incubation Center to be establishedwith
the
Cyprus ArbitrationCenter
Hisarcıklıoğlu
urged Australian business people to invest
Turkey-Australia Business Council Working
Dinner was held in Sydney with the attendances
of the Union of Chambers and Commodity
Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President M.
Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Economy Minister Nihat
Zeybekci and representatives of various business
communities.
Speaking at the Turkey-Australia Business
Council Working Dinner, the Union of Chambers
and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB)
President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu drew attention
to the fact that global economy has shifted to the
East with the global financial crisis, along which
it is in line with Turkey’s strategic interests to be
strong and diverse relations with the Asia-Pacific.
