The 28th Ordinary General Assembly of the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD) was held at the Haliç Congress Centre on the association's 35th anniversary. At the General Assembly, which took place with the participation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Burhan Özdemir was elected as the new President.
MÜSİAD's 28th Ordinary General Assembly was held at the Haliç Congress Centre with the participation of more than 3,000 MÜSİAD members. At the General Assembly, which was also attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Mahmut Asmalı handed over his duty, while Burhan Özdemir, who was currently serving as Vice President, was elected as the new President. At the same time, MÜSİAD's new-term Members of the Board of Directors were also introduced.
In his speech at the 28th Ordinary General Assembly of the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD) held at the Haliç Congress Centre, President Erdoğan said that a change of flag had taken place in the association.
Noting that Mahmut Asmalı, who had served as president since September 2021, had handed over his duty to Burhan Özdemir, Erdoğan thanked Asmalı for his efforts and devoted work and wished Özdemir success from Almighty God.
Expressing his wish that the general assembly would both add strength to the power of the MÜSİAD community and contribute to Türkiye's growth and development, Erdoğan said: "First of all, I would like the following point to be known here: I have always remembered with gratitude the meaning, the message and the value of MÜSİAD accepting me as its first honorary member before I went to Pınarhisar in 1999. In those days when the dense atmosphere of February 28 still persisted, the solidarity shown by MÜSİAD always had an exceptional place in my heart. Not only during the February 28 period, but also before and after it, MÜSİAD always displayed a strong stance in favour of democracy, justice, the rule of law and freedoms."
“MÜSİAD never gave up producing, exporting or working for the whole of Türkiye”
Stating that, despite every kind of hardship, oppression, pressure, threat and discrimination, the members of MÜSİAD had written an epic in the economy, in industry, in exports and in charitable services along with rights and freedoms, Erdoğan said: "Even in the dark days when capital itself was divided into colours, when some were treated as natural children and others as stepchildren, MÜSİAD never gave up producing, exporting or working for the whole of Türkiye."
President Erdoğan explained that since 1990 MÜSİAD had made very valuable contributions to the progress and growth of the Turkish economy, to the annual increase in exports, production and employment, and to Türkiye's coming to the fore as a centre of attraction, and that they had preserved their stance and their sincerity for 35 years.
"While earning, you have never neglected to bring earnings to the nation, starting with your employees, or to conduct trade with the concepts of contentment and abundance," Erdoğan said, and continued as follows:
"By bringing our industrialists and businessmen together and by forging a unity of power and ideals, you have assumed a historic role in the field of civil society. I say it at every opportunity. One of those who have contributed most to the success story that Türkiye has written over 23 years in democracy, in diplomacy, in defence, in trade and in many other fields is the MÜSİAD family. If today there is a much stronger and much more respected Republic of Türkiye compared to before 2002, MÜSİAD's 35-year struggle has an important share in this. MÜSİAD's determined support in thwarting the attacks that targeted the national will and our democracy over the last 23 years is of course undeniable."
Expressing that they are indebted to MÜSİAD as a country and as a nation, Erdoğan thanked the association and its members for the principles they have upheld with great care for exactly 35 years and for the historic contributions they have made to the Turkish economy.
Erdoğan prayed to God to make everlasting the affection of MÜSİAD and its members, who represent the nobility of the nation not only within the borders but also in the most remote corners of the world and who proudly wave the flag of brotherhood.
“Dreams walk towards the future”
In his speech at the General Assembly, MÜSİAD's 7th President Mahmut Asmalı emphasized MÜSİAD's line, which has continued to rise from the past to the present, and its togetherness. In his speech Asmalı said: “In defiance of those who asked, ‘Can global trade come out of Anatolia?’, today we are discussing on which continent of the world and what kind of business partnership can be established.”
Emphasizing that he had carried the office of MÜSİAD President with great pride for 3 years and 8 months, Asmalı said: “Until this moment of handover today, we strove to carry this blessed duty with a loyalty befitting the spirit of MÜSİAD.”
Summarizing the activities they carried out throughout the term, Asmalı spoke of Anatolian Economic Diplomacy, the Anatolian Production and Investment Movement, MÜSİAD Visionary, the International MÜSİAD EXPO Fair, MUST, Sectoral Summits, Reports and Publications, the Power of Türkiye Awards, the Golden Gear Short Film Festival, the Independent Venture Capital Fund, international fairs and many other programs during this period.
“Türkiye is no longer merely a regional power; it is an actor that determines the direction of the global system”
Also speaking of Türkiye's developing role, Asmalı emphasized that as MÜSİAD they are both the bearer and the builder of the Century of Türkiye vision. Emphasizing that, besides being a regional power, Türkiye also determines the direction of the global system, Asmalı said:
“Türkiye is no longer merely a regional power; it is an actor that determines the direction of the global system. And right in the middle of this transformation, we as MÜSİAD are both the bearer and the builder of the Century of Türkiye vision. This vision contains not only economic growth but also a claim to civilization woven with morality, justice, production, technology and diplomacy. In the armed UAV (SİHA) and UAV (İHA) revolution in the defence industry, in our domestic electric car taking to the roads, in the take-off of our national combat aircraft KAAN, from our satellite technologies to our software exports and in many more fields, there is the sweat, the signature and the prayer of MÜSİAD members. Our motto today is clear: “Insistence on domestic production, determination in manufacturing… We say that the best boycott is to produce.” Türkiye is now a country that makes its weight felt not only within its own borders but also on the conscience map of the world. Behind every diplomatic step that Türkiye takes, from the Middle East to Africa, from the Caucasus to Latin America, there is a politics of conscience. This stance is the product not only of the wisdom of the state, but of a cause-consciousness distilled from our nation's history, faith and tradition.”
Emphasizing in his speech the goal of a Türkiye Free of Terrorism, Asmalı reiterated that the business world must focus on production. In his speech Asmalı said:
“As MÜSİAD, we have always adopted a unifying, solution-proposing, just and constructive understanding. We believed that the business world must be the side that “produces value”; we focused on being “producers”, not “polarizers”. Whatever our political views may be, we have to grow together. As a society — with our Kurds and Turks, our Alevis and Sunnis, our women and men, our young and old — we must all join hands for our common future. For this reason, we regard the ideal of a “Türkiye Free of Terrorism” not merely as a security issue but as a matter of economic sustainability.”
“This is not a farewell, it is a change of flag”
Stating that in MÜSİAD's traditions the end of the office of the presidency is not a farewell but merely a change of flag, Asmalı concluded his speech as follows:
“Today, on 9 May, on the founding day of our MÜSİAD, we hand over the duty we took over on 11 September 2021 with the same sense of responsibility and with peace of heart. This is not a farewell but a change of flag; not an end but a renewal for the continuation of goodness. Today I am taking off the “president's hat” here and putting on the “private soldier's hat”. I feel great pride in handing over this sacred trust to my brother Mr. Burhan Özdemir. I sincerely believe that when his youthful dynamism combines with our deep-rooted experience, and his visionary approach with our geography of the heart, far greater stories will be written.”
Speaking at the general assembly, MÜSİAD's new president Özdemir said that carrying out in a worthy manner this duty, which requires great sensitivity and effort to bear, would only be possible with the prayers of those who have a right in this cause.
Özdemir said: "Because in its essence there are the tears of those who held on to hope despite pain, the memories of those who paid a price in the past, and the right of a generation that managed to stand upright in spite of everything. MÜSİAD, which emerged from the bosom of our nation and flourished there, is the result of a return to the essence and of the desire to search for one's roots."
Recalling that the foundations of MÜSİAD were laid 35 years ago today, on 9 May 1990, Özdemir continued as follows:
"In the time that has passed, MÜSİAD has played an important role in breaking our country's chains of domination in the deep corridors and in bringing production, industry and trade together with the true owners of this homeland. With this consciousness, MÜSİAD keeps alive today, despite the eight whole centuries that have passed, the noble understanding of the 13th century Akhi Organization, and strives to base trade on morality and to know that what it earns comes not from itself but from God."
"The world economy has been struggling with inflation for the last 15 years"
Burhan Özdemir, stating that the world economy has been struggling with inflation for the last 15 years, explained that before the effects of the 2008 crisis could be fully overcome, many adverse developments occurred, notably the Covid-19 pandemic and the Russia-Ukraine war, and that these crises slowed down global trade and growth rates.
Touching on such topics as the global debt crisis, the employment gap and energy and food security, Özdemir spoke of the possible outcomes to which protectionism in trade, the formation of new trade blocs and the transformation of the supply chain would lead.
Özdemir said that the concept of "globalization", presented at the beginning of the 21st century as the victory of unlimited trade between countries and of the free market economy, had come to an end or changed form after the developments of recent years.
Expressing that Türkiye had prepared itself in advance for these days thanks to the national moves the state has implemented in many fields, Özdemir said: "On the one hand it has carried the rate of domestic and national production to the peak point of our country's history, and on the other hand it has further strengthened our ties with our civilization and our roots. This success is a source of pride for our country."
"MÜSİAD will be among the actors that shape Türkiye's national and global economic future"
MÜSİAD President Özdemir, underlining that all these developments clearly show that Türkiye will be one of the most important actors of the new world order, continued as follows:
"As MÜSİAD businessmen, tomorrow as yesterday we will stand behind our state's national policy implementations and will always keep alive the excitement of this historic opportunity that our country has seized. In the new period, MÜSİAD will be positioned not only as a business world structure but at the same time as one of the actors that shape Türkiye's national and global economic future. In the coming period, MÜSİAD, besides increasing the influence of the Turkish business world across the globe and having a greater say in international markets, will develop projects that spread to the broad layers of society and benefit the economic development of oppressed Muslim geographies, and will be ready to take every kind of initiative incumbent upon it for Türkiye to become a regional leader."
Özdemir added that they would use the economic and industrial advantages they will obtain by seizing this period not for their own interests but as instruments of the cause they pursue in order to respond to whoever seeks a cover for their oppression all over the world by using the concepts of human rights and democracy as a mask.
The New Board of Directors Was Also Announced
MÜSİAD's new-term board of directors list was elected at the General Assembly. Under the chairmanship of Burhan Özdemir on the Board of Directors, Ahmet Doğan Alperen, Abdulkadir Çınar, Eyüp Uğur, Fahrettin Oylum and Selim Başdemir were elected as Vice Chairmen.
The Members of the Board of Directors are as follows:
Full Members of the Board of Directors: Ahmet Doğan Alperen, Eyüp Uğur, Muhammed Selim Başdemir, Abdulkadir Çınar, Fahrettin Oylum, Yunus Kartal, Selim Sar, Cemal Özen, Hasan Engin Tuncer, Ayşe Akgül Can, Mahmut Sefa Çelik, Ahmet Karakaya, Fatih Altunbaş, Mehmet Hilmi Kağnıcı, Abdullah Bozatlı, Selçuk Kar, Osman Nuri Önügören, Mağsum Usta
Substitute Members of the Board of Directors: Dr. Abdullah Eriş, İsmail Filizfidanoğlu, Muhammed Huzeyfe Güllüoğlu, Cihan Kazan, Taha Çifci, Semih Fermanlı, Zeliha Kurt, Ahmet Tarık Gör, Seyf Şahin, Erdem Kesmen, Ahmet Gürel
Disciplinary Board Full Members: Mehmet Develioğlu, Mehmet Şahin, Bekir Sami Nalbantoğlu
Disciplinary Board Substitute Members: Kerim Altıntaş, Halim Aydın, Vahit Kaya
Board of Auditors Full Members: Yusuf Cevahir, Mehmet Zeki Kaldırım, Ergun Kont
Board of Auditors Substitute Members: Mustafa Yalnız, Cevat Kır, Yaşar Sekizkardeş
