At MÜSİAD EXPO 2020, which MÜSİAD organizes every two years, many steps were also taken to develop Türkiye’s trade and investment networks. Within this scope, the MÜSİAD-World Honorary Consuls Trade and Diplomacy Summit, in which 50 honorary consuls took part, was held, while an International Cooperation Agreement (MOU) was also signed with 19 new organizations from 4 continents.
In order to contribute to trade and investment networks, honorary consuls, who are among the pioneering elements of diplomacy that has become the language of communication of trade, came together at the ‘MÜSİAD-World Honorary Consuls Trade and Diplomacy Summit’ held within the scope of MÜSİAD EXPO 2020. The summit, at which the honorary consuls shared information on opening new investment and trade channels, once again revealed MÜSİAD’s richness in the field. MÜSİAD, which has signed a total of 193 agreements with various institutions and organizations to date, also signed MOU agreements at the fair with 19 new organizations from 4 continents. Thanks to these new agreements, steps will be taken towards developing exports and trade between Türkiye and these countries.
“WE WANT TO STRENGTHEN THIS NETWORK”
MÜSİAD Vice President Mehmet Akif Özyurt, underlining that honorary consuls, who help develop economic, commercial, social and cultural relations between different countries and the Republic of Türkiye and who contribute to the promotion of the country at the highest level, also make important contributions to foreign trade expansion and to attracting foreign direct investment, said that because they are aware of this, for the past three years they have been holding this summit that brings together Türkiye’s Honorary Consuls located in all four corners of the world.
Stating that in this sense MÜSİAD has become the base of commercial diplomacy and that the success achieved all over the world demonstrates this, Özyurt said, “This meeting is very important in terms of developing our commercial diplomacy strategy.”
MÜSİAD High Board Chairman Fatih Keçebir, who spoke at the summit and expressed that the institution of honorary consulship is given greater importance especially in countries that do not have a widespread network of diplomatic missions, said, “Türkiye is very fortunate in this respect. It has honorary consuls whose trade volume requires a multiple supplier network. On the occasion of MÜSİAD Expo, we want to strengthen this network even further.” Recalling that they held this summit within the scope of MÜSİAD EXPO for the first time, Chairman of the MÜSİAD Diplomatic Relations Committee Zeki Güvercin conveyed that there are 210 countries in the world and that 120 countries have honorary consulates in Türkiye. Noting that Türkiye also has nearly 100 honorary consuls around the world, Güvercin also gave the information that in the coming weeks the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will take steps on this matter together with MÜSİAD.
Hatun Demirer, Director General for Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and one of the speakers at the summit, conveyed that it is very valuable for MÜSİAD to hold such an organization that will develop commercial relations.
After Ambassador Salih Murat Tamer, İstanbul Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who stated that the honorary consuls have more than fulfilled the duties falling to them during the difficult period being experienced, nearly 30 honorary consuls took the floor.
WHAT DID THE HONORARY CONSULS SAY?
Honorary Consul of Lesotho Yunus Ete stated that they want to strengthen the country’s relations with Türkiye.
Honorary Consul of Honduras and President of the World Honorary Consuls Association Emre Ete, recalling that the aim is for relations between countries to be strengthened in the political and social fields as much as in the economic fields, emphasized the importance of making direct investments in these countries and of receiving investment.
Honorary Consul of Africa Tamer Taşkın, saying that the 2 billion dollar commercial relationship between the two countries is low and that increasing it is compulsory, dwelt on the need to increase bilateral agreements.
Honorary Consul of Paraguay Cengiz Deveci, saying that the country is favourable for the development of commercial and diplomatic relations, made the following reminder:
“Paraguay’s previous government had moved its embassy to Jerusalem. With the work and briefings we carried out with the new government, the embassy was taken back to Tel Aviv.”
Honorary Consul of Spain Zeynel Abidin Erdem, conveying that the trade volume between Türkiye and Spain has reached 12.8 billion dollars, recalled that Spain is one of the rare countries where the import and export gap is closed.
Senegal’s İstanbul Honorary Consul Emin Çakmak underlined that there is serious potential in Senegal in food, agricultural products, construction materials and textile products.
Honorary Consul Abdullah Yeşil conveyed that the country’s imports amount to 18 billion dollars and that there is Chinese hegemony in the country. Stating that there are investment plans in the fields of sustainable food security, increasing the manufacturing industry, an accessible health system and accessible mass housing, Yeşil explained that Türkiye’s relations with the country are at a good level.
Honorary Consul of the Dominican Republic Lalia Gonzalez, saying that there is a trade volume of 60 million between the two countries, dwelt on the fact that foreign relations and foreign investors are given importance in the Dominican Republic and that major changes are expected as of this year.
Honorary Consul of Slovenia Başar Arıoğlu stated that he has been the country’s honorary consul for 17 years and that this country in the middle of Europe is an important gateway for Turkish products to open up to Europe.
The other honorary consuls who attended the summit online gave information through their speeches about the countries they represent and the trade volume in these countries.
WHY ARE MOU AGREEMENTS IMPORTANT?
The ‘Goodwill Agreements/Memoranda of Understanding’ signed at MÜSİAD EXPO 2020 in the international arena, primarily with the businessmen’s organizations of countries, in order to develop bilateral relations make an important contribution to mutual cooperation and to the development of trade.
The partner in the country where the memorandum exists includes the institution in its list during an important trade delegation, investment delegation or initiatives to increase bilateral trade potential, and involves it in the negotiations.
The bilateral and trilateral goodwill cooperation agreements it actively uses serve as an important bridge in this sense.
With the MOU cooperation agreements made within the body of the MÜSİAD Diplomatic Relations Committee, the identification of the counterpart organizations that will create these opportunities for the target institution and its members, the signing of MOU agreements with these institutions and the planning of organizations that will deepen cooperation through the negotiations to be held subsequently.
THERE ARE COUNTRIES FROM 4 CONTINENTS AS WELL
MÜSİAD, which has signed a total of 193 agreements with various institutions and organizations to date, also signed MOU agreements at the fair with 19 new organizations from 4 continents. While MOU agreements were made with the Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture in Tanzania, Panama and Lebanon, agreements were signed with the Employers’ Federation in Pakistan and with KOBİA, the country’s equivalent of KOSGEB, in Azerbaijan. Agreements were also made with the Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Tajikistan, Guinea and Pakistan, the Foreign Trade Chamber in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Turkish Iranian Industrialists and Businessmen Association in Iran, the Mosul Chamber of Commerce in Iraq, the Global Investors Association in Lebanon, the Libyan Businessmen Council and the Misurata Free Zone in Libya, the Santiaga Chamber of Commerce in Chile, the Afghanistan International Chamber of Commerce in Afghanistan, and the Türkiye Honorary Consuls Association.
In addition, Uruguay and Tunisia were also among the countries with which MOU agreements were made.