The MÜSİAD IBF 2nd Turkish-Arab Business Summit brought nearly 1,600 business people together in Gaziantep. Investment and trade opportunities were addressed comprehensively at the B2B meetings, panel sessions, city presentations, trade fair and business meetings held within the scope of the program.
The International Business Forum (IBF) 2nd Turkish-Arab Business Summit was held in Gaziantep. At the summit, held with the contributions of the Ministry of Trade, under the coordination of the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD) and in cooperation with the Gaziantep Governor’s Office, Gaziantep Metropolitan Municipality, Şahinbey Municipality, Şehitkamil Municipality and MÜSİAD Gaziantep, regional investment opportunities and commercial developments were addressed comprehensively. While nearly 1,600 business people from more than 30 countries came together at the program, Iraqi Minister of Trade Ala el-Cuburi and the accompanying 300-member business delegation attended the summit.
"Energy and thorium reserves will add strength to Türkiye's power"
Speaking at the program, IBF Chairman Erol Yarar pointed out that Türkiye is making a development leap on a very different scale. In his speech Yarar said, "Türkiye's exports have now reached a scale where there is no country in the world they do not reach." Chairman Yarar also touched on Türkiye's wealth in terms of energy resources and assessed: "When I speak of the monetary value of Türkiye's energy and thorium reserves, I am speaking only of the confirmed 350 thousand tons. It is 80 trillion dollars. Türkiye sits on an energy mine."
Chairman Yarar continued his remarks as follows:
"Türkiye is making a development leap on a very different scale. It is engaged in very major leaps in exports, in production and in employment. As MÜSİAD, we have been following these developments closely for 32 years. But over the last 20 years it has gained such great speed that it has reached a very high level in terms of our country's potential. Türkiye's exports have now reached a scale where there is no country in the world they do not reach. The total imports of the 22 Arab countries amount to 1.2 trillion dollars. Türkiye's total exports to the 22 Arab countries are only 25 billion dollars, about 2 percent of that. With this meeting today, we are striving to increase these figures. Türkiye has no energy deficit. We do not need oil either. Nor do we need natural gas. There is a raw material so valuable that it is more precious than oil and natural gas. The world's largest thorium reserve is located in Türkiye. The confirmed reserve is 350 thousand tons. The estimated reserve is 800 thousand tons. One ton of thorium is the equivalent of 3.5 million tons of coal. It is 3 million tons of oil. When I speak of the monetary value of Türkiye's energy and thorium reserves, I am speaking only of the confirmed 350 thousand tons. It is 80 trillion dollars. Türkiye sits on an energy mine. Within 10 years, green energy such as thorium, which is called green nuclear and does not harm the environment, is a mineral more valuable than Türkiye's gold, and Türkiye is sitting on it. These reserves will add strength to Türkiye's power. With the work to be done over 10 years, their monetary conversion will be very rapid. Hydrogen, called the energy of the future, is also a by-product of this. Trust Türkiye. Türkiye is running. No obstacle will be able to stand in Türkiye's way."
"Anatolia's brand cities will assume an important role in building a great Türkiye"
MÜSİAD President Mahmut Asmalı drew attention to Gaziantep's investment potential and emphasized the importance of brand cities. President Asmalı said, "Anatolia's brand cities will assume an important role in building a great Türkiye."
President Asmalı made the following statements in his assessment:
"Türkiye is positioned as an important centre of attraction in the world in terms of its strategic location and investor security. Investment incentives and innovative business opportunities keep foreign investors’ interest in Türkiye constantly on the agenda. The fact that foreign direct investments have increased with great momentum clearly reveals this potential. Our country proved to the whole world that it is a reliable logistics junction by moving forward without disrupting supply chains throughout the pandemic. Drawing on this confidence, we moved the Turkish-Arab Business Summit from İstanbul to Gaziantep. In our export vision, we are ushering in a new order shaped by regional dynamics. Gaziantep has a strategic position on the historic Silk Road. Gaziantep, which has preserved its mission of being a stopping point of civilizations from the past to the present and has maintained its importance defying the years as a centre of culture and trade, defies the world with its centuries-old deep-rooted history, developed industry and logistics infrastructure. The most important driving force that brought this success to our province of Gaziantep, listed by the World Bank among the 7 most competitive cities in the international arena, is its positioning as a strong logistics centre... Transport facilities and its proximity to port cities are rapidly increasing Gaziantep’s export power. Our producers, industrialists and investors of Gaziantep set an important record by carrying out more than 10 billion dollars of exports in 2021. Gaziantep, which expands its boundaries with each passing day with its production and export potential, is racing towards brand-new successes with its international trade volume. With the summit, we aim to make use of new opportunities that will support these steps. Türkiye is growing and developing, and therefore Anatolia's brand cities will assume an important role in building a great Türkiye."
The B2B meetings, business meetings, trade fair and panel sessions organized within the scope of the IBF 2nd Turkish-Arab Business Summit were the scene of comprehensive assessments regarding regional trade and investment opportunities. Commercial purchasing delegations from more than 30 countries also attended the summit. Within the framework of the program, the aim is to create a business volume of 5 billion dollars.
