Investment Office, in collaboration with the German Association for Small and Medium-sized Businesses, Der Mittelstand (BVMW), and the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen’s Association (MUSIAD), hosted a roundtable meeting that was honored by the Minister of Trade Ömer Bolat, Türkiye’s Ambassador in Berlin A. Başar Şen, and Investment Office Vice President Bekir Polat.
Moderated by Investment Office Country Advisor Faruk Kurtulmuş, the roundtable meeting brought together senior representatives from the Turkish economy and prominent representatives from German SMEs.
During his speech, Minister Bolat emphasized that over 8,000 companies with German capital operate in Türkiye, representing approximately 10 percent of all international companies in the country.
“The bilateral trade volume between Türkiye and Germany exceeded USD 50 billion in 2023, making Germany the most significant partner in our trade with the European Union. We have set a target of USD 60 billion for the next period, and on the occasion of this meeting, we conducted comprehensive evaluations on how to achieve this goal,” Bolat added.
Vice President Bekir Polat emphasized German businesspeople’s confidence in Türkiye's potential and the natural synergy between Germany and Türkiye.
“Firstly, Türkiye possesses a rapidly growing and resilient economy. Over the past 20 years, the average annual growth rate has been 5.5 percent. Secondly, Türkiye boasts a young, dynamic, and deep talent pool, which we believe is crucial for the country's future,” Polat said during his speech.
“Our third message is that Türkiye continues its reform process under the leadership of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, striving to provide the best investment environment for international investors. Lastly, Türkiye's geostrategic position is significant. While this alone may not suffice, over the past 20 years, with investments in all infrastructure sectors, Türkiye has emerged as a regional hub not only for production but also for the entire value chain of manufacturing, including R&D, design, procurement, and logistics,” Polat continued.
During the high-level meeting, a memorandum of understanding (MoU) aimed at enhancing bilateral relations and cooperation was signed between MUSIAD President Mahmut Asmalı and BVMW President Dr. Jochen Leonhardt.
Additionally, Minister Bolat participated in BVMW’s "Zukunftstag Mittelstand" event in Germany. During his speech, Minister Bolat emphasized Türkiye's historically close relationship with Germany and highlighted the ongoing progress of both commercial and strategic partnerships.
"In addition to Germany's developed industry, Türkiye's rising economy and its workforce will play a key role in Turkish and German businesses expanding their breakthroughs in the coming years and gaining increased shares in global markets for their country's economies," Bolat noted.