At this year’s second ceremony, awards will be given in 10 categories, including the power of production, the power of young entrepreneurs, the power of communication, the power of values, the power of sustainability, the power of women, the power of academia, the power of transformation, the power of the brand, and the jury’s special award.
Mahmut Asmalı, President of the Independent Industrialists and Businessmen Association (MÜSİAD), said at the promotional meeting that the awards will be given to those who stand out with successful work in the fields of production, young entrepreneurship, communication, values, sustainability, women’s entrepreneurship, academia, transformation, and branding.
Asmalı recalled that the first ceremony held under the name Turkey’s Power Awards in 2022 took place with the participation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, and the Turkey’s Power Special Award was presented to the President.
Asmalı stated that the second ceremony of the award ceremony, which will take place with its renewed face this year, will be held, and emphasized that their priority as MÜSİAD is to reward investment and research activities that create added value for the country and to provide motivation.
Asmalı emphasized that the purpose of their activities and studies is to provide guiding new sources of motivation for the business world, saying, “With our international business forums, visionary meetings, Turkey’s Power Awards, MÜSİAD EXPO Fair, MÜSİAD Women International Awareness Summit, sectoral meetings we organize, international business summits, and our organizations, we always strive to support the effort and hard work.”
Asmalı, mentioning their new events, said that they held the International Contractorship and Finance Summit yesterday with intense participation, emphasizing that the organization is critical for the sector to be in a more effective position and for international projects to be realized.
Asmalı stated that their visit to the USA in May will be with a delegation of over 60 business people, explaining that it will be a very intense program including branch openings of the Turkish-American Business Branch, panels, and more.
Asmalı said that the tourism summit in Trabzon on May 2nd, the MÜSİAD Women International Awareness Summit on October 12th, and the MÜSİAD EXPO Fair, which brings together business and political worlds, are among the events they will organize.
“Turkey is on the eve of a great leap period” Asmalı said that in the four years without elections, the main focus should be on low inflation and sustainable growth, continuing, “It is of great importance to implement the priority structural reforms specified in the Medium-Term Program (MTP) for the development and progress of our country in this period, where it is aimed to permanently reduce inflation. As MÜSİAD business people, we believe that the period ahead will continue the growth process focused on production, exports, and employment for our country, and we will spend this period most efficiently. Turkey continues to be a constantly growing and secure port. The steps taken in the last 20 years are yielding results, and our country is making great strides in many sectors, from the defense industry to energy, from the health sector to the tourism sector. With our trained workforce, flexible production capacity, strategic and strong logistics infrastructure, Turkey is on the eve of a great leap period. If we are patient and determined, we believe that we will implement these historic moves together and reach the goal of a great Turkey, which is strong and effective in every field.”
“We support the trade restrictions imposed on Israel” Regarding the question of the trade restrictions imposed on Israel, Asmalı emphasized that the boycott is part of the struggle and they support the decision taken. Pointing out that not buying is more effective than selling goods, Asmalı said, “It is our shame as business people if we cannot put alternatives on the shelves for the products we boycott. In fact, we have companies that produce many alternative products. Due to branding deficiencies and the inability to promote themselves in terms of communication, they have not been able to achieve the desired efficiency. We must be able to produce the quality of the products we do not buy, which we boycott, and at much more economical conditions. Our work and incentives regarding this issue continue.” He said.
Asmalı stated that they divide those who react to trade restrictions on Israel into two, welcoming criticism from those who are sensitive to Palestine but finding it malicious for some political circles to criticize a platform like MÜSİAD, where there are business people sensitive to spiritual values.
Stating that trade restrictions are in continuation of the ceasefire decision taken at the United Nations General Assembly, Asmalı expressed that nearly 8 million Muslim Palestinians live in the occupied territories and they need Turkish goods in products such as food, groceries, and hygiene.
“Structural reforms should be implemented in the non-election period” Asmalı stated that they had meetings with the economic administration during the creation process of the MTP, saying, “In these meetings, we told Deputy President Cevdet Yılmaz that it is necessary for the public to lead in terms of savings. We conveyed our opinion that a public savings monitoring committee should be established and results should be announced to the public periodically, such as monthly, quarterly, and semi-annually, in line with the determined goals. We are preparing a report that shifts from opinion economy to savings economy as MÜSİAD. We aim to complete this report by the end of June.” He said.
Indicating that economic indicators are in line with the MTP targets, Asmalı used the following statements: “The business world had two biggest problems. One was the lack of predictability, and the other was the volatility of foreign currency. A 5-year program has been announced with the MTP and the 12th Development Plan. Monetary and fiscal policies have been determined. These two issues are now eliminated. As business people, we can see where the economy in Turkey will go in 2024, 2025, and 2026, what will happen in inflation, and where the foreign exchange will approximately come. It is said that if we are to cool down the economy, we need to make some sacrifices without growth. This should not be by stopping production conditions. It should be by reducing consumption. We must produce, provide employment, and export. We believe that reducing Turkey’s current account deficit would be much more correct. Mechanisms should be established to support investors and producers in this direction. Precautions should be taken gradually and balanced. We have four years without elections. Structural reforms should be implemented in this period. We need to focus on digital transformation and efficiency.”
source: aa.com.tr/ prepared by Melisa Beğiç