TİM Delegates Meeting Held

Over 600 exporters participated in TİM Delegates Meeting, including delegates representing TİM member exporters and TİM Board Members. At the meeting hosted by Turkey Exporters Assembly (TİM) Chairman İsmail Gülle, important figures in the field discussed economy, the USD 300 billion export target, technology, global trade, developments worldwide, health and life issues over two days. TİM Chairman İsmail Gülle emphasized in his speech the importance of unity within the Turkey Exporters Assembly family. Drawing attention to delegates' significant contribution to exports and the success achieved in exports, Gülle stated: "The export family succeeded in breaking the monthly export record in 11 of the last 13 months. In September, we exceeded USD 20 billion in monthly exports for the first time in our history. One-fifth of these historic export figures was achieved by TİM's 439 delegates. With our suitcases in hand, we ran continuously without leaving a single country we did not visit. The essence of the matter is to live up to the jersey. The export family delivered on this sacred jersey despite all difficulties. As a result of our successes, we are now in a new league in global trade. In the 1980s, when many of us were just beginning with exports, Turkey achieved USD 3 billion in annual exports, whereas today we accomplish this figure in 2 days. Export is the key to Turkey's economic rise," he said. [caption id="attachment_128925" align="aligncenter"] İsmail Gülle[/caption] Gülle stated that export is the key to Turkey's economic rise. "Export is fundamentally a team sport. From the day we put on this sacred jersey and began exporting for the first time, we started running not just for ourselves but for our sector, for our country, for our team. We faced difficulties at times, we shared our successes with rewards at times. We changed tactics and targeted other countries at times. With our suitcases in hand, we ran continuously without leaving a single country we did not visit. The essence of the matter is living up to the jersey. The export family delivered on this jersey despite all difficulties. As a result of our successes, we are now in a new league in global trade. This family, this belief, this dedication surely deserved championship. In the 1980s, when many of us were just beginning with exports, Turkey achieved USD 3 billion in annual exports, whereas today we accomplish this figure in 2 days. In the 1990s, we were a country conducting USD 15 billion in annual exports, and today we are a country easily achieving this figure in one month. We can say the 2000s were years of progress for us. In 2020, global trade came to a near standstill. Despite this, we managed to exceed our year-end target by conducting USD 169.6 billion in exports. Turkey, during this difficult period, did not experience employment losses through its exporters' outstanding efforts, did not disrupt production and exports; stood out as a reliable supplier. Gülle drew attention to one-fifth of the historic export figures being achieved by TİM's 439 delegates. Gülle stated: "As of July, we exceeded USD 200 billion in exports over a 12-month period for the first time in our history. In September as well, we achieved USD 212.2 billion in exports over the last 12 months, surpassing our annual export target of USD 211 billion. The export family broke the monthly export record in 11 of the last 13 months. In September, we exceeded USD 20 billion in monthly exports for the first time in our history. We are the architects of this triumph. We take pride in our contribution to growth, development and employment. We demonstrated with these figures that support given to export and exporters does not go unrewarded. Turkey grew by 21.7 percent in the second quarter of 2021, becoming the fastest-growing country among OECD nations. Export's contribution to this growth was 10.8 percentage points," he said. TİM Chairman Gülle also made statements regarding the good news given to the export family by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan at TİM's 28th Regular General Assembly held on 18 September. "In his address, our President gave us two important pieces of good news that will address new needs brought about by the increase in our exports.

Export preparing for the future

Noting that TİM and exporter associations are working on one hand to find solutions to current export problems and on the other hand preparing exports for the future, Gülle stated: "During the pandemic period, there were serious disruptions in global supply chains. We faced problems such as container crisis and increased freight costs. We have completed work on the Turkey Logistics Portal, which will serve as a bridge between logistics companies and our exporters by enabling more effective use of logistics facilities. In line with our Assembly's goal of 'Stronger Exports, Stronger Turkey,' under our President's patronage, preparations for the Turkey Export Council, which will shape the future of national exports and which we plan to organize on a regular basis, are underway. In the Export Council, we will address our exports not only in numerical terms but also from philosophical and strategic perspectives," he explained.

TİM Sustainability Action Plan Launched

TİM Chairman Gülle also emphasized climate change. Gülle concluded his remarks by stating: "From the professional perspective that concerns us, especially the European Green Deal contains content that will transform trade. Similar practices are knocking on the door in the United States and other countries. For this reason, we must reform how we produce and export. Based on this need, as TİM, we are ready to do whatever is necessary. In this context, we launched the TİM Sustainability Action Plan with the motto 'Produce for the world without consuming it.' We established our Science Committee, which was the first target in our Action Plan. With our President's support, our Trade Ministry's coordination and the contributions of relevant institutions, we will provide all necessary contributions to the 'Green Deal Action Plan.' With sustainable export strategy, sectoral action plans and public consultation mechanisms, we will closely monitor the entire process step by step. I believe we will carry out this transformation process in a manner most appropriate to our country's interests through consultation, collective wisdom, cooperation, science, determination and faith," he concluded.

"Exporters will elevate the Made in Turkey brand"

As TİM, we have carried out numerous activities to increase the added value of exports. For this purpose, we launched the TİM Brand Council. Because we believe that only exporters can elevate the "Made in Turkey" brand. Our work continues on establishing the TİM E-Export Council under our Assembly's roof, to bring e-export issues to the agenda of TİM and relevant institutions, and to expand the national and international e-export ecosystem. We also place special importance on increasing export participation in Turkey. Since we took office, we have made it our duty to spread exports to the grassroots. In this context, we have continuously conducted "TİM SME Export Mobilization Training Programs." We clearly see the results of our mobilization in our exporter company numbers. On average, 1,500 new companies of ours started exporting in each month of 2020. In 2021, this average increased further, reaching monthly levels of 1,700. There is no stopping until we reach "Turkey with Trade Surplus."