At MÜSİAD EXPO 2020, which MÜSİAD organizes every two years, many steps were also taken in order to develop Türkiye's trade and investment networks. Within this scope, while the MÜSİAD-World Honorary Consuls Trade and Diplomacy Summit, in which 50 honorary consuls took part, was held, an International Cooperation Agreement (MOU) was also signed with 19 new organizations from 4 continents.

In order to contribute to trade and investment networks, honorary consuls, who are among the pioneering elements of diplomacy that has become the language of communication of trade, came together at the 'MÜSİAD-World Honorary Consuls Trade and Diplomacy Summit' held within the scope of MÜSİAD EXPO 2020. The summit, at which the honorary consuls shared information on the way to opening new investment and trade channels, once again laid bare MÜSİAD's richness in the field. MÜSİAD, which has signed a total of 193 agreements with various institutions and organizations to date, also signed MOU agreements with 19 new organizations from 4 continents at the fair. Thanks to these new agreements, steps will be taken at the point of developing exports and trade between Türkiye and these countries.

“WE WANT TO STRENGTHEN THIS NETWORK”

MÜSİAD Vice President Mehmet Akif Özyurt, who underlined that honorary consuls, who help develop economic, commercial, social and cultural relations between different countries and the Republic of Türkiye and provide contributions at the highest level to the promotion of the country, also make important contributions on the subject of foreign trade expansion and attracting foreign direct investment, said that because they are aware of this, for the last three years they have been holding this summit that brings together Türkiye's Honorary Consuls located in the four corners of the world.

Expressing that in this sense MÜSİAD has become the base of commercial diplomacy and that the success achieved all over the world demonstrates this, Özyurt said, “This meeting is very important in terms of the development of our commercial diplomacy strategy”.

Speaking at the summit and voicing that the institution of the honorary consulate is given greater importance especially in countries without a widespread diplomatic mission network, MÜSİAD High Board Chairman Fatih Keçebir said, “Türkiye is very fortunate in this sense. It has honorary consuls whose commercial volume requires a multiple supplier network. On the occasion of MÜSİAD Expo we want to strengthen this network even further”. Recalling that they held this summit within the scope of MÜSİAD EXPO for the first time, MÜSİAD Diplomatic Relations Committee Chairman Zeki Güvercin also conveyed that there are 210 countries in the world and that 120 countries have honorary consulates in Türkiye. Stating that Türkiye also has close to 100 honorary consuls around the world, Güvercin gave the information that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs will take steps with MÜSİAD on this subject in the coming weeks.

One of the speakers at the summit, Hatun Demirer, Director General for Consular Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, conveyed that MÜSİAD's holding of such an organization that will develop commercial relations is very valuable.

After Ambassador Salih Murat Tamer, İstanbul Representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, who stated that the honorary consuls have more than fulfilled the duties incumbent upon them in the difficult process being gone through, close to 30 honorary consuls took the floor.



WHAT DID THE HONORARY CONSULS SAY?

Honorary Consul of Lesotho Yunus Ete stated that they want to strengthen the country's relations with Türkiye.

Honorary Consul of Honduras and President of the World Honorary Consuls Association Emre Ete, for his part, recalling that it is aimed for relations between countries to grow stronger in the political and social fields as much as in the economic ones, emphasized the importance of making direct investment in these countries and of receiving investment.

Honorary Consul of Africa Tamer Taşkın said that the commercial relationship of USD 2 billion between the two countries is low and that increasing it is imperative, dwelling on the fact that bilateral agreements need to be increased.

Honorary Consul of Paraguay Cengiz Deveci, for his part, said that the country is suitable for the development of commercial and diplomatic relations and made the following reminder:
 
“Paraguay's previous government had moved the embassy to Jerusalem. With the work and briefings we carried out with the new government, the embassy was taken back to Tel Aviv.”

Honorary Consul of Spain Zeynel Abidin Erdem, conveying that the commercial volume between Türkiye and Spain has reached USD 12.8 billion, also recalled that Spain is one of the rare countries in which the import and export gap is closed.

Honorary Consul of Senegal in İstanbul Emin Çakmak underlined that there is serious potential in Senegal in food, agricultural products, construction materials and textile products.

Honorary Consul Abdullah Yeşil conveyed that the country's imports amount to USD 18 billion and that there is Chinese hegemony in the country. Voicing that there are investment plans in the fields of sustainable food security, increasing the manufacturing industry, an accessible health system and accessible mass housing, Yeşil explained that Türkiye's relations with the country are at a good level.

Honorary Consul of the Dominican Republic Lalia Gonzalez, saying that there is a trade volume of 60 million between the two countries, dwelt on the fact that importance is given to foreign relations and foreign investors in the Dominican Republic and that major changes are expected as of this year.

Honorary Consul of Slovenia Başar Arıoğlu stated that he has been the country's honorary consul for 17 years and that this country in the middle of Europe is an important gateway for Turkish production to open up to Europe.

The other honorary consuls who attended the summit online, for their part, gave information in the speeches they delivered about the countries they represent and about the trade volume in these countries.

WHY ARE MOU AGREEMENTS IMPORTANT?

The 'Letters of Good Intent/Memoranda of Understanding' signed at MÜSİAD EXPO 2020 in the international arena, primarily with the businessmen's organizations of countries, in developing bilateral relations make an important contribution to mutual cooperation and to the development of trade.

The partner in the country in which the memorandum exists also takes the institution into its list and includes it in the talks in an important trade delegation, investment delegation or initiatives to increase bilateral trade potential.

The bilateral and trilateral good intent cooperation agreements it actively uses serve as an important bridge in this sense.

With the MOU cooperation agreements made within the body of the MÜSİAD Diplomatic Relations Committee, the determination of the counterpart organizations that will create these opportunities for the target institution and its members, the signing of MOU agreements with these institutions and the planning of organizations that will deepen cooperation through the talks to be held subsequently.

THERE ARE COUNTRIES FROM 4 CONTINENTS AS WELL

MÜSİAD, which has signed a total of 193 agreements with various institutions and organizations to date, also put its signature to MOU agreements with 19 new organizations from 4 continents at the fair. While an MOU agreement was made with the Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture in Tanzania, Panama and Lebanon, agreements were signed with the Employers' Federation in Pakistan and with KOBİA, the country's KOSGEB, in Azerbaijan. Agreements were also made with the Chamber of Industry and Commerce in Tajikistan, Guinea and Pakistan, the Foreign Trade Chamber in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Turkish-Iranian Industrialists and Businessmen Association in Iran, the Mosul Chamber of Commerce in Iraq, the Global Investors Association in Lebanon, the Libyan Businessmen Council and the Misurata Free Zone in Libya, the Santiago Chamber of Commerce in Chile, the Afghanistan International Chamber of Commerce in Afghanistan, and with the Türkiye Honorary Consuls Association.

In addition, Uruguay and Tunisia were also among the countries with which MOU agreements were made.