Wednesday, 10 June 2009
The chairman of Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) and Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK), Rifat Hisarciklioglu, said Tuesday his dream is to see a Turkish company among the world's 100 greatest ones.
Hisarciklioglu attended a meeting of the World Turkish Business Council European Region Committee at the Turkish House in Berlin, Germany.
Speaking at the meeting, Hisarciklioglu said that "it is my dream to see a Turkish firm among the top 100 companies of the world. Where will this company come from? It will come from those of you sitting at this table. If you ask me to be with you 24 hours a day to reach this goal, I am ready for it. This is my duty".
Turkish companies must exchange ideas and have joint projects, Hisarciklioglu said.
"If we work together, no one can beat us. One of our deficiencies is that we do not have a business culture to work together," Hisarciklioglu said.
"We would win if we act as a team. We need to pass the ball to each other," Hisarciklioglu said.
"120,000 Turkish businessmen employ 600,000 people in the European Union (EU). I want Turkish businessmen to have confidence in themselves," Hisarciklioglu said.
"Turkey has come a long way after having been given opportunities. Turkey's exports in 1980 were worth only three billion USD. Today, Turkish exports are worth 130 billion USD. Turkey is the biggest industrial power between Italy and China. This is absolutely remarkable. Turkey now sells industrial goods. We have nothing less (than other economic powers)," Hisarciklioglu said.
"The number of female and young entrepreneurs must be increased. Half of Turkey's population is comprised of individuals who are 28 years old or younger," Hisarciklioglu said.
"As businessmen, you need to seek ways to make more business and profits. The richer you are, the stronger I get," Hisarciklioglu also said.
Hisarciklioglu will meet with other prominent Turkish businessmen in Berlin on Wednesday.
