Turkey is likely to become a leading nation in the world thanks to its rapidly growing economy, according to the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) Secretary General Jean-Guy Carrier.

Speaking at a regional consultation meeting organized by the ICC G-20 Advisory Group and hosted by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), Carrier said that Turkey’s economy is a shining example of success, as the ideas and advice coming from Turkish business circles are highly important for the G-20. “Turkey should definitely be taken into consideration. It is one of the potential leaders of the future,” the Secretary General added.

“The governments should do their best to instill confidence in the private sector for growth and employment creation,” said TOBB President Rifat Hisarciklioglu, drawing attention to the difficulties the global financial crisis has caused. “Turkey has succeeded in doing that and the results show that 3.5 million new jobs were created during the recovery period,” he remarked.

Source : Hurriyet

Mexico’s Carlos Slim Helu, the world’s richest man according to Forbes magazine, is searching for investment opportunities in Turkey, as he described the country as the “shining star of the globe”. Visited by the President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) / the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK) Rifat Hisarcıklıoglu in Mexico during the Turkish-Mexican Business Forum, Helu expressed strong interest in Turkey, and said that he is actively looking for investment opportunities in the country.

“Carlos Slim Helu is weighing up opportunities in different sectors but he is particularly interested in the telecommunications sector,” said Hisarciklioglu after his meeting with the man whose personal wealth amounts to USD 70 billion. Hisarciklioglu said he invited Helu to Turkey for a close inspection of investment opportunities and a possible meeting with the Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. According to Hisarciklioglu, Helu described Turkey as the world’s shining star, and said Turkey and Mexico are likely to reach “developed country” status within the next ten years, as long as they keep their current economic model intact.

Carlos Slim Helu owns the largest mobile telecom company in South America, America Movil and has stakes in more than 200 global retail, banking and IT companies.

Source : Sabah

Companies struggling in Europe’s debt-ridden economies look to Turkey for salvation. A delegation consisting of Italy’s leading industrialists under the organization of Confindustria took a trip to Turkey last week to seek partnership and cooperation opportunities, as well as to prepare ground for a larger gathering in May, the Turkish-Italian Business Forum.

Thirteen representatives from Confindustria led by Paolo Zegna visited Turkey’s various business bodies; the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association (MUSIAD), the Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON) and the Turkish Industrialists’ and Businessmen’s Association (TUSIAD) for cooperation in the machinery, food, consumer goods, construction-infrastructure and banking sectors. Turkish-Italian partnerships for dealing with projects in third country markets were also on the table.

Last week’s preparatory meetings will be followed by the Turkish-Italian Business Forum with a much larger attendance. Some 60 Italian companies are expected to take part in the forum, which is scheduled to take place in Istanbul on May 2-3.

The trade volume between Turkey and Italy reached USD 17 billion in 2011. Over 900 Italian companies are active in Turkey.

Source : Star