The “Legal Assurance in Trade and Investment Summit”, organized by the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD) Services and Finance Sector Board, was held at the MÜSİAD Head Office with the participation of Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek, Chairman of the Justice Committee of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye Prof. Dr. Cüneyt Yüksel, MÜSİAD President Burhan Özdemir, MÜSİAD Services and Finance Sector Board Chairman Ali Tutuk and a large number of business people and guests.
At the summit, which brought the business world and the world of law together on the same ground, the headings of predictability in commercial life, investment security and the strengthening of the legal infrastructure were addressed comprehensively.
Ali Tutuk: “Legal confidence is the key to economic growth”
MÜSİAD Services and Finance Sector Board Chairman Ali Tutuk stated that the summit had been organized in order to share the problems the business world encounters in the field with the representatives of the world of law and to develop a solution-oriented dialogue.
Emphasizing that a country's commercial strength is directly related to the climate of legal confidence it possesses, Tutuk expressed that the rule of law and confidence in the law are the fundamental element of sustainable growth. He stated that accelerating judicial processes, expanding alternative dispute resolution mechanisms and strengthening contract security are among the priority expectations of the business world.
Burhan Özdemir: “Legal predictability is the basis of investment decisions”
Speaking at the opening of the summit, MÜSİAD President Burhan Özdemir drew attention to the determining factors of investment decisions in a period in which global competition is accelerating and capital moves rapidly. Özdemir emphasized that, alongside economic size, incentives and financial advantages, legal predictability, transparency and a climate of confidence are of critical importance for the investor.
Expressing that for an investor it is as vital to know which rules the steps taken will be subject to as it is to know profitability, Özdemir stated that the rule of law, an independent and impartial judiciary, contract security and the protection of property rights are among the fundamental building blocks of economic development.
Noting that Türkiye's geostrategic location, young population and production capacity offer strong potential, Özdemir pointed to the importance of continuously strengthening the climate of legal confidence so that this potential can be turned into sustainable investments. He expressed that the continuity of reforms, the simplification of legislation and the achievement of unity in implementation would be decisive in this process.
Stating that in the new period a vision of law is needed that will adapt to digitalization, artificial intelligence and the transformation of international trade, Özdemir emphasized that building a strong legal infrastructure in these fields is among the priority headings.
International contacts and investment vision
Touching upon the opportunities offered by the “Strong Centre Programme for Investors in the Century of Türkiye” announced by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Özdemir stated that MÜSİAD members have increased their contacts with global financial circles. Expressing that following the contacts held in New York, meetings would also be held with investment banks in London, Frankfurt and Riyadh, Özdemir drew attention to Türkiye's growing economic influence on a regional and global scale.
Cüneyt Yüksel: “A strong economy is possible with strong law”
In his speech at the summit, Chairman of the Justice Committee of the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye Prof. Dr. Cüneyt Yüksel emphasized that legal security, the investment climate and the predictability of commercial life are of critical importance for the future of the business world. Stating that it is extremely valuable for these headings to be addressed under the leadership of the business world, Yüksel expressed that a strong and sustainable economic structure would be possible only on a sound legal foundation.
Yüksel used the following words: “The task that falls to us today is to bring our time-honoured values together with modern commercial law, and to fortify justice while protecting the freedom of enterprise. Because a strong economy is possible only with strong law.”
“Global uncertainties offer a window of opportunity for Türkiye”
Drawing attention to the effects on economic balances of the geopolitical developments taking place on a global scale, Yüksel expressed that regional tensions and the transformation in the international system harbour new risks. Stating that in this process countries with strong state capacity, political stability, the will to reform and legal security come to the fore, Yüksel expressed that Türkiye, with the potential it possesses, could turn this period into an opportunity.
Emphasizing that the strengthening of the investment climate is not limited to incentives alone, Yüksel expressed that Türkiye is a country that promises the investor both today and the future.
“Digital transformation makes a new era in the legal system imperative”
Stating that technological developments directly affect legal systems, Yüksel said that digitalization is no longer a choice but a necessity. Expressing that Türkiye has adapted rapidly to this transformation, Yüksel stated that important steps have been taken towards digitalization in judicial processes, artificial intelligence applications and the strengthening of the e-justice infrastructure.
Stating that, within the scope of the “The Century of Türkiye Is the Century of Justice” vision, the aim is to give the law a structure that does not merely follow developments but gives them direction, Yüksel expressed that, through the work carried out within the Grand National Assembly of Türkiye, comprehensive regulations are being worked on in fields such as artificial intelligence, data security and ethical principles.
Minister of Justice Gürlek: “Our goal is a faster and more reassuring justice system”
Speaking at the summit, Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek stated that they aim to build a legal system that will enable the business world to spend its time in the fields of production. Gürlek expressed that work is continuing towards a faster, more predictable and more reassuring judicial structure.
Stating that important work is being carried out towards simplifying processes in commercial cases, the specialization of courts and accelerating digitalization steps, Gürlek noted that the aim is in particular to give commercial courts a more effective and specialized structure.
Expressing that work is continuing to establish a balanced and sustainable legal structure in many fields, from enforcement and bankruptcy processes to composition with creditors practices, Gürlek emphasized that regulations aimed at increasing the legal security of domestic and foreign investors are among the priority items on the agenda.
Following the opening speeches, at the session closed to the press held under the moderation of MÜSİAD President Burhan Özdemir, representatives of the business world put their questions to Minister of Justice Akın Gürlek. In the session, which continued with mutual consultations, the legal problems encountered in commercial life and proposed solutions were addressed.
Current legal headings were addressed in the sectoral sessions at the summit
In the sessions held within the scope of the summit, current legal headings that directly concern the trade and investment ecosystem were evaluated comprehensively by names who are experts in the field.
In the first session, held under the moderation of Att. Selçuk Kar, President of the 45th Civil Chamber of the İstanbul Regional Court of Justice Ali Aslan, İstanbul University faculty member Prof. Dr. Murat Atalı, Galatasaray University faculty member Prof. Dr. Mehmet Erdem and Head of the Mediation Department of the Ministry of Justice Çağdaş Özer took part as speakers. In the session, enforcement and bankruptcy processes, composition with creditors practices, the importance of the contract in commercial relations and the current state of mediation mechanisms were addressed within the framework of commercial disputes and judicial practices.
In the second session, held under the moderation of Att. Bekir Dedeler, Galatasaray University faculty member Prof. Dr. Yaşar Hakan Pekcanıtez, Altınbaş University faculty member Prof. Dr. Tekin Memiş and Member of the 12th Civil Chamber of the İstanbul Regional Court of Justice Fatih Keklikkıran took part as speakers. In this session, the economic and legal effects of bankruptcy law, the relationship between trade and investment security and the criminal liability of the merchant, and judicial practices in commercial disputes were evaluated in detail.
The sessions, which took place with the contributions of academics who are experts in their field, members of the judiciary and sector representatives, laid the ground for important assessments and proposals aimed at strengthening the legal infrastructure the business world needs.
