MÜSİAD SWITZERLAND

DINNER ORGANIZATION

11 DECEMBER 2019

PROTOCOL (?)

Honourable Ambassador,

Esteemed Presidents and Representatives of the Business World and of NGOs,

Esteemed MÜSİAD Members and Friends,

Esteemed Members of the Press (?),

Today, in Zürich, where we are gathered on the occasion of the opening of MÜSİAD Switzerland's new service building, I feel great happiness at coming together with you, our friends.

With these feelings I greet you all with respect; welcome, you have brought joy with you.

Distinguished Guests,

We are in Switzerland, one of the countries with the highest level of prosperity in Europe. As the frequently used expression goes, this is the capital of strategy and of expertise.

Switzerland and Türkiye may perhaps not be very close in terms of distance; but the two countries, contrary to physical

conditions, are quite close.

When we look at the relations between our countries, we see that political relations are progressing in a manner befitting the historical standing of both countries.

An important dimension of our relations with Switzerland is formed by the approximately 130 thousand citizens of ours living in this country.

The mutual relations conducted by the political will of both countries, in the past and today, are reflected in our trade as well.

Türkiye's exports to Switzerland, although following a graph that has risen and fallen from period to period,

have recorded serious progress, especially after 2002.

Türkiye's exports to Switzerland, which in 2002 stood at a level of only USD 289.1 million,

were realized at a level of USD 1.7 billion as of 2018.

Although this is a very significant increase, there is a more important matter that these figures tell us, distinguished guests;

In particular, the export level of USD 5.7 billion reached in 2015 indicated that the potential between the two

countries stands at far higher levels than the current one.

The import figures also confirm this potential.

While Türkiye's imports from Switzerland stood at a level of USD 2.1 billion in 2002,

they approached the limit of USD 10 billion in 2013, and as of 2018 they were realized at a level of USD 2.8 billion.

In the 2002-2018 period, the total of Switzerland's investments in our country reached USD 2.6 billion. In the same period, the total of Turkish investments in Switzerland was 874 million

US dollars. In this respect we can comfortably say the following: Switzerland is an important partner for Türkiye not only in trade but also on the investment side.

The fact that the number of firms with Swiss capital or Swiss partnership operating in our country is approaching 900

in fact clearly demonstrates this situation.

When we take a look at Türkiye's trade with Europe as a whole, we again encounter a gratifying picture.

Our exports to the EU countries, which constitute our largest export market, recorded an increase of %13.7 compared to the previous year and in 2018 reached the level of 84.1

billion.

Today the European Union's share in our country's total exports is %50.

European countries carry significant weight not only in foreign trade figures but also in direct

investments.

The amount of direct investment made from European countries to Türkiye was only USD 468 million in 2002,

while in 2018 it was realized at a level of USD 4.2 billion.

This also means that %74 of the direct investments Türkiye received from abroad in this

period were realized by European countries.

In conclusion, Türkiye, with its population exceeding 80 million, is an important market

for the EU countries. And it is an important actor for the security of the energy routes extending to Europe.

At the same time, with the economic and political stability it possesses, it is an important partner that forms a barrier between the union and the states

experiencing internal conflicts.

When the share of the EU countries in the Turkish economy is also taken into account, the development of economic relations between the parties will produce results in favour of both

sides.

As MÜSİAD business people, we are always working to carry our relations even

further. This is not merely a goal aimed at developing trade, distinguished guests.

We strive to increase the number of people we come into contact with and to contribute to the commercial,

economic and social development of the countries we are in.

Today, as a capital platform operating at 24 locations in Europe and at 225 locations in 95 countries around the world, we see that we have achieved this. But of course

this success is not enough for us; we will carry it further. All together.

Distinguished Guests,

As MÜSİAD, we are working with all our strength so that our country attains a structure that grows by producing.

We spend our energy on building Türkiye's future in the best possible way. This is our whole effort, our whole concern and our whole purpose.

Together with our members at home and abroad and with all our friends, we work in order to produce together,

to grow together.

As MÜSİAD business people, from the day we were founded we have never

focused solely on increasing our personal fortunes.

Our purpose has never been primarily to make money. We saw as our priority the development not of the individual,

but of society and of our country.

With this responsibility, we come together with business people in the four corners of the world and work in line with our country's common goals.

As Malcom X expressed it, “My sincerity is my identity.”

We carry out all these efforts of ours with sincerity; because this is our identity.

Our strong organizational network and the powerful bond among our members offer us a great privilege. We make an effort to strengthen this bond even further with each

passing day.

While strengthening our commercial activities, we put forward projects in many different

fields.

We share the outputs of our projects with our economic administration, with policymakers and with the

public.

Today, a powerful transformation is taking place in the world. Countries, states, companies and

individuals are determining their future direction according to this transformation.

We too, as MÜSİAD, have launched our own institutional and structural transformations.

We are continuing our process of change, which we have named Renewal, by remaining faithful to the values to which we have been attached for 30 years and to our founding purposes.

We summarize the Renewal process, which represents a long journey, as changing our own management and implementation

habits.

Renewal was launched in order to make MÜSİAD's sphere of influence and power more effective and more

productive.

Together with Renewal, we will walk more resolutely towards the goals we have set before us.

In the new period as well, keeping our finger on the pulse of the field, we will continue to process and to produce all the data we have gathered,

in line with the interests of our members and of our

country.

Together we will reach the goal of a Türkiye that grows by producing.

Esteemed Guests,

As I complete my remarks, I hope that the number of the organizations at which we come together will

increase, and that we may be together with you more often.

I thank everyone who contributed to this organization and greet you with respect and

affection.

Abdurrahman Kaan

President of MÜSİAD