'Champions of Exports' Awards Ceremony Held

Exporters' Champions Award Ceremony Held Turkey's Exporters' Assembly (TİM) held its 30th General Assembly and the 'Exporters' Champions' awards ceremony in Istanbul with the participation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and government ministers. Awards were presented by President Erdoğan to the top 10 companies that made the highest contribution to merchandise exports of USD 254 billion in 2022, as well as to the company that was the national champion in services exports. TİM Chairman Mustafa Gültepe, stating that Turkey increased its merchandise and services exports by 66 percent over the last three years, said, "We increased our merchandise exports from USD 169 billion to USD 254 billion and our services exports from USD 38 billion to USD 90 billion. What we exported in one year in 1983, we now accomplish in one week." During the ceremony, TİM Chairman Mustafa Gültepe said that the export community had achieved great success under the leadership of President Erdoğan. Noting that merchandise exports have increased sixfold and services exports fivefold over the last 21 years, Gültepe continued as follows: "In just the last 3 years, we increased our merchandise exports from USD 169 billion to USD 254 billion and our services exports from USD 38 billion to USD 90 billion. Our combined merchandise and services exports rose by 66 percent in 3 years. What we exported in one year in 1983, we now accomplish in one week. All of this came about through determination, stability, resolve and struggle. We have not left a single country or region without our footprint. We are among the largest suppliers to many countries. Behind all these successes lie the support our state provides to our exporters and its rapid response mechanism. The establishment of the Export Development Corporation made a major contribution to solving guarantee issues. Turkish Trade Bank, which has a century-old history, now belongs to the exporters. With our bank, we will begin work on financing exports and our projects as soon as possible. The dynamics of trade are constantly changing. We do not stand still either; we constantly innovate. We are working to reach new markets and new customers. Under the coordination of our Trade Ministry, we organized 120 international delegations in the first 6 months of the year, while participating in 206 international fairs abroad." Emphasizing that as exports increase, needs also change and diversify, Gültepe stressed that at this stage they are experiencing a process that requires generating new solutions, concluding his remarks as follows: "We are engaged in fierce competition with rival countries. In this competition, the more we can reduce our production costs, the stronger our position will be. Despite successive rate cuts since the start of the year, energy still represents a significant cost item for our manufacturers. Our manufacturers pay for electricity at nearly twice the cost compared to Asian countries. Therefore, our exporters need additional rate reductions. We expect the minimum wage support program, which expires in June, to be continued with increased amounts. As our exports rise, our financing needs also increase. Growing demand brings large investments, and large investments bring new financial needs. We know you will not hesitate to provide our President's support in terms of access to financing and increasing rediscount credit limits. Our President's statements regarding the visa problems we have experienced with Europe and the United States give us hope. We believe this issue will be resolved as soon as possible. On the other hand, we are in a period where we need to strengthen our logistics capacity. We desire that the progress you have achieved in road infrastructure over the last 21 years be crowned with rail and maritime transport. These transportation methods are perfectly aligned with our country's 2053 carbon-neutral target."