Zaman.org
December 20

Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan embarked on an official visit to Uzbekistan, taking along with him a group of some 200 businessmen. The paramount aim of the visit is to improve Turkish-Uzbek relations that were strained after the era of the late President Turgut Ozal; and with hope that the doors that have remained closed for years would be reopened again, businessmen rushed to join this trip. Ozal also used to take a great number of entrepreneurs with him during his trips abroad.

Besides, the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), the Federation of Business Development (ISHAD) and the Businessmen's and Industrialists' Association (MUSIAD) participated in the trip with relatively large customer portfolios. Representatives from all sectors, mainly textile, building, food and engineering services showed great interest in this trip. Before setting off on the journey, such a great number of people definitely must have had very positive signals.

The food sector entrepreneurs in particular, displayed their commodities during the trip. They served a wide range of foods to Erdogan and his entourage - from chocolate to date and from currant to baklava (sweet flaky pastry) - they did not let them stop eating. Erdogan, discussing all the issues one by one, with the TOBB boss Rifat Hisarciklioglu, pledged to find solutions to all the problems.

The prime minister was surrounded by journalists in the plane when he repeated his remarks about minimum wage: "The allowance that the businessmen give their children to go to Laila (a luxury nightclub in Istanbul) is more than the minimum wage." Hisarciklioglu replied jokingly, "Dear Prime Minister, we cannot even go to our homes let alone Laila." Erdogan said he wants the contribution of the business community in efforts to curb inflation, adding they will strive to close the gap from the minimum wage hikes, aimed at attaining humane living standards, with the self-sacrifice the government is going to make in Social Security (SSK) premiums and taxes.

Erdogan found the complaints about exports groundless. "They say that our costs are far higher than those of China. Why are not we compared with Europe whose costs are higher than ours, but with China?" When asked, Erdogan stated that except in some sectors, China cannot even be a rival to Turkey. Erdogan advised the ones who wanted to reduce the costs to go to 36 cities, which brings tax exemption, cheap energy, and such facilities. "We can only defeat terrorism in this way, poor people are subjected to terrorism," Erdogan emphasized. The prime minister saying, it is essential not to use sharp statements in politics, answered questions posed by the media in a rather soft manner. Erdogan stating that Denktas should reshuffle his advisers, did not answer the question on whether or not he implied Mumtaz Soysal.

We will measure their achievements and see the joy in the plane on their return. Will the offers of the businessmen continue? Shall will see what they have in hand as they return from Uzbekistan. We hope that they find more that they expect. It is however much more important for us to improve our relations with Uzbekistan, than a few million dollars that will be added to our foreign trade report.Turkish Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan embarked on an official visit to Uzbekistan, taking along with him a group of some 200 businessmen. The paramount aim of the visit is to improve Turkish-Uzbek relations that were strained after the era of the late President Turgut Ozal; and with hope that the doors that have remained closed for years would be reopened again, businessmen rushed to join this trip. Ozal also used to take a great number of entrepreneurs with him during his trips abroad.

Besides, the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB), the Federation of Business Development (ISHAD) and the Businessmen's and Industrialists' Association (MUSIAD) participated in the trip with relatively large customer portfolios. Representatives from all sectors, mainly textile, building, food and engineering services showed great interest in this trip. Before setting off on the journey, such a great number of people definitely must have had very positive signals.

The food sector entrepreneurs in particular, displayed their commodities during the trip. They served a wide range of foods to Erdogan and his entourage - from chocolate to date and from currant to baklava (sweet flaky pastry) - they did not let them stop eating. Erdogan, discussing all the issues one by one, with the TOBB boss Rifat Hisarciklioglu, pledged to find solutions to all the problems.

The prime minister was surrounded by journalists in the plane when he repeated his remarks about minimum wage: "The allowance that the businessmen give their children to go to Laila (a luxury nightclub in Istanbul) is more than the minimum wage." Hisarciklioglu replied jokingly, "Dear Prime Minister, we cannot even go to our homes let alone Laila." Erdogan said he wants the contribution of the business community in efforts to curb inflation, adding they will strive to close the gap from the minimum wage hikes, aimed at attaining humane living standards, with the self-sacrifice the government is going to make in Social Security (SSK) premiums and taxes.

Erdogan found the complaints about exports groundless. "They say that our costs are far higher than those of China. Why are not we compared with Europe whose costs are higher than ours, but with China?" When asked, Erdogan stated that except in some sectors, China cannot even be a rival to Turkey. Erdogan advised the ones who wanted to reduce the costs to go to 36 cities, which brings tax exemption, cheap energy, and such facilities. "We can only defeat terrorism in this way, poor people are subjected to terrorism," Erdogan emphasized. The prime minister saying, it is essential not to use sharp statements in politics, answered questions posed by the media in a rather soft manner. Erdogan stating that Denktas should reshuffle his advisers, did not answer the question on whether or not he implied Mumtaz Soysal.

We will measure their achievements and see the joy in the plane on their return. Will the offers of the businessmen continue? Shall will see what they have in hand as they return from Uzbekistan. We hope that they find more that they expect. It is however much more important for us to improve our relations with Uzbekistan, than a few million dollars that will be added to our foreign trade report.

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