In commemoration of the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye, the Investment Office held the 12th installment of the "Türkiye Century Investment Receptions" on October 16 in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
Held at the Turkish Embassy in Abu Dhabi, the event was a collaborative effort between the Investment Office and the UAE International Investors Council (UAEIIC), and it welcomed distinguished guests, including Grand National Assembly of Türkiye Industry, Trade, Energy, Natural Resources, Information, and Technology Committee Chairman Mustafa Varank, Turkish Ambassador to the UAE Tugay Tunçer, Investment Office President A. Burak Dağlıoğlu, UAEIIC Secretary General Jamal Aljarwan, as well as notable business leaders and officials from both countries.
Speaking at the event, Grand National Assembly of Türkiye Industry, Trade, Energy, Natural Resources, Information, and Technology Committee Chairman Mustafa Varank emphasized the resilience of the Turkish economy, stating, "Over the past two decades, the Turkish economy has successfully overcome numerous challenges, including the pandemic, wars, and energy crises. Turkish manufacturers have demonstrated their commitment to domestic and international obligations worldwide, positioning Türkiye as a reliable partner for all nations." Varank further stated the significance of the presence of 80,000 international companies operating in Türkiye, serving as a testament to the robustness of the Turkish economy. In his concluding remarks, Varank expressed gratitude to the UAE investors for their valuable partnership in Türkiye's economic development.
Turkish Ambassador to the UAE Tugay Tunçer highlighted the robust bilateral collaboration, particularly in the energy sector. Tunçer stated, "Over the past two years, Türkiye and the UAE have worked closely together, resulting in the signing of around 40 agreements across various sectors, with a total value of USD 15.7 billion as of July 2023. Türkiye has become one of the top five trade partners of the UAE in 2023, while the UAE has been Türkiye's leading trade partner in the GCC during the same period." Tunçer further announced that following President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's visit to Abu Dhabi, the first Joint Economic and Trade Commission would convene next month, with the participation of Trade Ministers from both countries.
Delivering a speech at the event, Investment Office President A. Burak Dağlıoğlu emphasized Türkiye's remarkable progress under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's leadership, with a CAGR of 5.4 percent over the past two decades. Dağlıoğlu noted that Türkiye's share in global trade has increased from 0.5 percent in 2002 to over 1 percent today. He stated “Türkiye has also attracted over USD 250 billion of FDI since 2002. The number of international companies in Türkiye has soared to an impressive 80,000, up from 5,600 in 2002." Dağlıoğlu outlined the vision of the "Türkiye Century," led by President Erdoğan, with the goal of positioning Türkiye among the top 10 global economies, while also extending an invitation to global companies to invest in Türkiye and explore its potential.
In addition to the event, a roundtable meeting with a Q&A session was held, featuring Mustafa Varank, representatives from around 30 companies, and government institutions in sectors such as logistics, energy, hospitality, ICT, financial services, and manufacturing.