Turkey Could be Remedy for EU’s Growth Crisis

Leitl said, on Friday April 1, that Asia and America outnumbered Europe with their growth rates and added: "We have to increase the growth rate of Europe. To achieve this, we the help of countries like Turkey." After the presidential board meeting of Eurochambers in Istanbul, which convened outside of Brussels for the first time, Leitl held a joint news conference with the President of the Turkish Union of Chambers and Stock Exchanges (TOBB), Rifat Hisarciklioglu. Leitl said: "The Turkish economy is part of Europe. This is normal. Turkey’s ideas and concepts are also applicable to Europe." He added that 43 European countries are members of Eurochambers, which consists of 1,500 chambers, 18 million companies, and 150 million employees. "We have the responsibility to represent these companies against EU foundations. We have to find out how we encourage and facilitate growth in Europe."

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Turkish Industry and Trade Minister Ali Coskun also participated in the meeting. Leitl revealed that at this meeting there had been opportunity to discuss the state of the Turkish economy, stating that Turkey had taken. "Serious steps towards achieving stability in the country. One of the most important of these was the decrease in the inflation rate. You increased your international credibility." Leitl expressed his belief that this stable atmosphere will attract international investment to Turkey. Leitl explained: "Whatever sectors you want to develop, foreign investors will invest in this. For example, there are many opportunities for investment in the fields of privatization, reorganization of the infrastructure and school systems". He added that the Eurochambers will support Turkey in its membership negotiations with the European Union (EU). The Eurochambers President said that the negotiation process is a political one; however, the Association will contribute to the process by developing economic relations.