The UAE's Ambassador to Ankara Saeed Al Dhaheri, who came together with MÜSİAD business people in Kayseri within the scope of the MÜSİAD Anatolian Economic Diplomacy program, assessed the work aimed at developing the commercial and cultural relations of the two countries. In his speech, Dhaheri drew attention to the importance of commercial diplomacy activities in enriching the business environment and developing areas of investment.
The second of the Anatolian Economic Diplomacy program, organized under the coordination of the Diplomatic Relations Commission of the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD), was held under the hosting of the MÜSİAD Kayseri Branch. At the program, held with the participation of MÜSİAD Vice President Davut Altunbaş, MÜSİAD Kayseri Branch President Ferhat Akmermer, MÜSİAD Diplomatic Relations Commission Chairman Osman Nuri Önügören and United Arab Emirates (UAE) Ambassador Saeed Al Dhaheri, Türkiye-UAE commercial and cultural relations as well as regional areas of investment were addressed.
"OUR AIM IS TO DO GOOD BUSINESS WITH OUR BUSINESS PEOPLE"
UAE Ambassador Saeed Al Dhaheri, who delivered the opening speech of the Anatolian Economic Diplomacy program held in Kayseri, emphasized that he was pleased with the talks held on developing regional cooperation and that this work would be of great help to the business people of the two countries. Stating that such programs are also highly important in terms of enriching the business environment and expanding investment environments, Dhaheri said, "We are both very happy and hopeful. God willing, we will continue our good work in Kayseri and in Türkiye. We want to see your art activities, your commercial undertakings and your factories. Our aim is to increase and improve the relations between the two countries on the basis of trust. Our second aim is to enlarge trade volumes by ensuring that good relations are formed between the businessmen in Türkiye and the UAE. I also thank our friends in Kayseri for their invitation.”
"KAYSERİ IS ONE OF THE IMPORTANT TURNING POINTS OF TÜRKİYE'S TRADE"
MÜSİAD Vice President Davut Altunbaş, who spoke at the program, shared his assessments regarding the Anatolian Economic Diplomacy program. Stating that as MÜSİAD the events aimed at developing commercial diplomacy would be increased within the scope of the new term targets, Altunbaş expressed that Kayseri stands at an important point for Türkiye's trade.
Altunbaş continued his speech as follows:
"A short while ago our President Mahmut Asmalı announced a 7-item strategy plan. Within the scope of our strategy plan, steps that will make a great contribution to our country's future targets come to the fore. One of these items was to accelerate diplomatic relations in Anatolia and to manage the economic work here. As MÜSİAD we hold very serious talks with 5 to 6 ambassadors and 10 consuls each month. With this movement that we launched simultaneously, we are going out into the field and preparing new investment environments by bringing our business people together with foreign mission representatives. We held our first meeting with our Ambassador to Nigeria in Çorum. We obtained very productive results from this work. Now we are in Kayseri. We really see Kayseri as one of the most important turning points of Türkiye's trade and industry. Especially in the furniture sector… In addition, it has made itself seriously accepted in the world in the metal sector, which we call consumer goods. Germany is number one in Türkiye's overall national exports. In Kayseri's exports, however, America is number one. Normally Türkiye currently wants to move towards America, and Kayseri attaches importance to this. God willing, I think that with the collaborations that can be established, this export direction will reach good points."
USD 3.6 BILLION IN EXPORTS IN 2021
MÜSİAD Kayseri Branch President Ferhat Akmermer, who touched upon the important role Kayseri plays in the field of trade and stated that export figures have risen further along with sectoral developments, said in his speech, "Our city has an economic structure that has been kneaded with trade for thousands of years. The greatest proof of this is the clay tablets found at the Kültepe Kaniş Karum Ruins right next to us. As can also be understood from the information obtained here, the history of Kayseri's integration with trade goes back approximately 6 thousand years. Throughout its long historical journey, Kayseri has preserved this identity no matter which civilization dominated these lands. In addition to organized industrial zones and traditional trade, it hosts an economic structure in which the e-commerce system brought by the new era is also successfully implemented. According to the latest data for 2021, Kayseri achieved great success with an export figure reaching USD 3.6 billion. In 2021, furniture, electrical household appliances and metal products were at the top of the sectors with the most exports. In the ranking of the countries exported to, the United States of America, Germany and Iraq take their place."
Following the event held at the MÜSİAD Kayseri Branch, Ambassador Saeed Al Dhaheri visited the production facilities of Erciyes Anadolu Holding together with the MÜSİAD delegation headed by MÜSİAD Vice President Davut Altunbaş and received information about the work at the facility. Within the scope of the program, the delegation also visited Kayseri Metropolitan Mayor Dr. Memduh Büyükkılıç and exchanged views on regional investment and production areas.
