President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said, "We expect to break a new record by reaching 200 billion dollars in total exports this year."
President Erdoğan sent a video message to the Qatar Economic Forum.
Wishing the forum to be auspicious, President Erdoğan thanked all Qatari authorities, Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani of Qatar in particular, who hosted the meeting online.
Stating that the global economy had been undergoing a gruelling period of pain, tests and uncertainties for the last 1.5 years due to the novel coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, President Erdoğan said that this pandemic, which was described as the biggest health crisis of the last century, continued to affect our countries in waves and new variants, despite all the progress in vaccination.
Noting that economic data for 2020 was enough to show what kind of a vortex our world was in, Erdoğan continued as follows:
"In 2020, for example, the global economy shrank by 3.5 per cent, while global trade decreased by over 10 per cent. International direct investment has fallen by 42 per cent, while over 90 million people fell below the line of extreme poverty. The total amount of global debt reached $282 trillion, the highest level in history. Food and metal prices around the world have shattered previous ten-year highs. Particularly underdeveloped and developing countries at the periphery of the global system were, so to say, left to their own fate in the face of the pandemic. We witness the same indifference when it comes to vaccines, which are our most crucial weapons against the pandemic. We are faced with a calamitous situation, with nearly100 countries around the world have yet to receive even the first dose of vaccines. Moreover, studies indicate that 85 poor countries will not have access to vaccines until 2023. The pandemic, which reminded us, once again, that we are one big family as humanity, could not be turned into an opportunity for global solidarity."
"We have not refrained from taking responsibility"
Emphasising that global economic recovery will not be possible unless vaccines and medicines are made available to all countries fairly, President Erdoğan said:
"As Türkiye, we have not refrained from taking responsibility in this fragile period. We provided medical supplies to 158 countries and 12 international organisations, saying, "a friend in need is a friend indeed". On the one hand, we administer the vaccines we obtain from various sources to our citizens; on the other hand, we make every effort to assist friendly and brotherly countries that have yet to acquire vaccines. We emphasise that the vaccination issue should not lead to new injustices on all platforms in which we participate. With this sensitivity, we are conducting our national vaccine studies, which we aim to have ready for use by the end of the year. I would like to share the good news that the Covid-19 vaccine developed by Türkiye will hopefully be the vaccine of all humanity along with our nation."
“The pandemic has also fuelled Islamophobia and anti-immigrant prejudice”
Expressing that it would be useful also to mention the virus of racism, which is gaining a global dimension, Erdoğan said, "The pandemic has not only deepened economic injustices but also fuelled Islamophobia and anti-immigrant prejudice."
Underscoring that today, in many Western countries, cultural racism, intolerance of different religions, beliefs and colours became more dangerous than the coronavirus, Erdoğan said, "Even if it is only the tip of the iceberg, statistics reveal the extent of the problem. Racist and Islamophobic attacks in the West have increased by 250 per cent in the last five years, and the rate of those who lost their lives in these attacks has increased by 700 per cent."
Pointing out that racist acts against mosques, associations, Muslim businesses, and Muslim women and youth were escalating, President Erdoğan shared the following thoughts:
"While the wounds caused by the 2019 barbarous attack in Christchurch, New Zealand, which claimed the lives of our 51 brothers and sisters, are still fresh, we have received the news of a terrorist attack of similar nature that took place in Canada two weeks ago. A Muslim family walking on a street was villainously massacred by a terrorist who is an enemy of Islam and humanity. Racist terrorist attacks target not only Muslims but also Jews, Africans, Asians, and Romanies. However, international media and human rights organisations retreat into a deafening silence, let alone show any reaction in the face of such acts. It is imperative that the global solidarity adopted in the fight against DAESH be also demonstrated against anti-Muslim movements as part of combatting terrorism. Otherwise, humanity will not be able to save itself from doomsday scenarios called clash of civilisations."
Noting that they could foretell, from today, that our world would face great economic, social, and political changes in the post-pandemic era, President Erdoğan said, "We, as Türkiye, carry out our preparations in such a way as to leave our marks on the present day and the future and with a long-term vision."
Expressing that the pandemic posed risks for our countries and economies while also opening several windows of opportunities, President Erdoğan continued as follows:
"Our country has distinguished itself with a positive trend during the pandemic period, not only in healthcare but also in production and manufacturing, logistics, public security, employment, and social assistance. Türkiye, with its strategic location interconnecting three continents, has started to gain greater prominence in the search for alternatives to the Asia-centred production network. The year 2020 marked a growth for Türkiye despite the adverse economic climate and interruptions of and increased protectionism against supply and logistic chains. With a 1.8 per cent growth rate, we ranked second among G20 countries to secure the highest growth. During the same period, we were among the G20 countries to witness the highest increase in industrial production. The growth rate of 7 per cent we secured in the first quarter of 2021 has increased our hopes for the remaining quarters. According to the latest reports by OECD, a growth rate of 5.7 per cent is forecasted for Türkiye in 2021, and 3.4 per cent for 2022. These figures indicate one of the strongest recoveries among OECD members. With the permission of Allah, we believe that we will even go beyond these forecasts."
"We expect to break a new record"
Expressing that they expected to break a new record by reaching 200 billion dollars in total exports this year, President Erdoğan noted the following:
"In parallel with all these developments, we do not lose track of our agenda on reforms that we have maintained without interruption for 19 years. We only recently announced our Human Rights Action Plan and Economy Reform Package to our nation. We also continue our works that we began with the aim of granting our country a more civilised, more democratic, and more liberal constitution. Again, in this process, we are conducting intense diplomatic traffic to solve our region's problems and contribute to global stability and peace. We are determined to further our cooperation with the countries in the region, starting with our neighbours, on the basis of mutual respect and equitable partnership."
Emphasising that recent events demonstrated how well-informed and timely Türkiye's actions in Syria, Libya, and the Eastern Mediterranean were, President Erdoğan stated that Türkiye foiled terrorism, protected democracy, and paved the way for dialogue and reconciliation, with the responsibility it had assumed across these geographies.
President Erdoğan reiterated his appreciation for the Gulf Cooperation Council resolution that enabled the lifting of the illegitimate blockade and sanctions against Qatar, as well as the reconciliation of brotherly Gulf countries.