The International MÜSİAD EXPO Mixed Trade Fair, organized every two years by the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD), began today with its 20th edition.
The International MÜSİAD EXPO 2024 Mixed Trade Fair was opened with the participation of Vice President of Türkiye Cevdet Yılmaz, Minister of Trade Prof. Dr. Ömer Bolat, Minister of Treasury and Finance Mehmet Şimşek and MÜSİAD President Mahmut Asmalı.
Speaking at the opening of the fair, MÜSİAD President Mahmut Asmalı stated that Türkiye has been a centre of trade in every period of history, and explained that these ancient lands located at the heart of the Silk Road have always been the centre of production, trade and value creation.
Saying, "Today, as MÜSİAD businessmen, we are preparing once again to give direction to world trade by bringing this ancient mission together with the requirements of the modern world, as we have done since the very first day we were founded," Asmalı stated that the theme of the event this year is "Global Trade Is Here".
Mahmut Asmalı said, "On the path we have set out on this year saying 'Global Trade Is Here', we are hosting exactly 2,150 participants from 115 countries and more than 300 firms from 24 sectors. We are experiencing the joy of coming together with our participants from a wide variety of sectors, chiefly textile, machinery, construction, energy, food, defence industry and advanced technology firms."
MÜSİAD President Asmalı stated that at the fair, which features 19 country pavilions, the large delegations coming especially from Algeria, Iraq, Malaysia and the United Kingdom will provide great momentum in spreading trade to a global scale, and reported that with the support of the Ministry of Trade they will bring together more than 650 participant purchasing delegations from 88 different countries with Turkish firms.
We still have a long way to run
Speaking at the opening ceremony of MÜSİAD EXPO 2024, Minister of Trade Prof. Dr. Ömer Bolat said that Türkiye conducts USD 605 billion of goods and USD 170 billion of services trade, and that with an income of USD 1.2 trillion it has become a very important country in the global arena.
Saying, "Our vision is the whole world. We will make the Century of Türkiye the century of trade," Bolat continued his words as follows:
"The point we have reached is, thank God, a point that no one could have imagined 22 years ago, under the leadership of our esteemed President. They see this very well from outside, they appreciate it, they envy it. We are a country that has been completely renewed in its infrastructure and superstructure, that has become a great production and supply centre, that has achieved access to the whole world with its ports, logistics centres, airports and airlines, that successfully carries out the Customs Union with the European Union and that has issued an invitation at the negotiating table in order to extend this to the services sector as well."
“Reducing inflation is our main goal”
Speaking at the opening ceremony of MÜSİAD EXPO 2024, Vice President of Türkiye Cevdet Yılmaz thanked MÜSİAD for the trade fair it has been holding for years and for its contributions to the country's economy. He noted that MÜSİAD is an important player in Türkiye's field of investment and production.
Also stating that MÜSİAD EXPO, which hosts visitors from 115 different countries, has recorded an important breakthrough for our country, Yılmaz explained the general objectives of the Medium-Term Program to business world representatives.
Cevdet Yılmaz made the following statements regarding the OVP:
“The general objective of the Medium-Term Program is to reduce inflation. While fighting inflation we may experience temporary difficulties, but let us not forget that you cannot ensure predictability without reducing inflation.
Reducing inflation by all means is our fundamental goal. This is the condition for sustainable growth. We will reduce inflation. With inclusive growth we will spread the benefits to the whole of society.”
MÜSİAD EXPO will continue until 29 November
MÜSİAD EXPO 2024, which will continue at the Tüyap Fair and Congress Centre until 29 November, will also host important representatives of the business world. Standing out with multiple B2B programmes, networking programmes, bilateral agreements, meetings and events, MÜSİAD EXPO 2024 targets a trade volume of USD 1 billion.
G20 Panel and Diplomatic Missions Session at MÜSİAD EXPO
Important events were also held on the opening day within the scope of the 20th MÜSİAD EXPO, organized with the vision of strengthening Türkiye's position in international trade.
G20 Panel
At the G20 Panel held within the scope of MÜSİAD EXPO, the current state and the future of global trade were discussed. At the panel, strategies for increasing international cooperation were debated and Türkiye's role in this process was assessed.
Diplomatic Missions Session
At the Diplomatic Missions Session, representatives from abroad and business people came together and exchanged views on the development of economic relations. Türkiye's strength in the field of trade diplomacy constituted the main agenda of the session.
