IKV Chairman Ömer Cihad Vardan attended the working dinner on the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) which was organized on  6 May 2014 by the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEIK)/Turkish – American Business Council (TAIK). During this meeting, the importance for Turkey to participate in the negotiations of TIPP was highlighted.

Minister of Economy Nihat Zeybekçi attend to this meeting which was held at the Çırağan Palace. TOBB Vice-President Ender Yorgancılar, DEIK/ Turkish – American Business Council Chairman Haluk Dinçer and other representatives as well as Members of the Board of Directors of the Turkish American Business Association (TABA/AmCham) and the Turkish representatives of Turkish – American Business Council established within the framework of U.S.-Turkey Framework for Strategic Economic and Commercial Cooperation (FSECC).

IKV Chairman Ömer Cihad Vardan made a brief speech in which he reminded that Turkey was not only a country that has established a Customs Union with EU but also a candidate country that is now negotiating to join the EU. In his speech, he drew the attention to the problems encountered by Turkey in regards to the free trade agreements signed by the EU with third countries. IKV Chairman Ömer Cihad Vardanalso mentioned the report prepared by the World Bank on the Customs Union and stressed that the policy solutions given by the World Bank should be taken into consideration. Vardan emphasized that the problems encountered within the current way of functioning of the Customs Union should be solved and he also pointed out to the importance of widening the scope of the Customs Union to areas such as services and agriculture. Lastly, IKV Chairman Ömer Cihad Vardan insisted on the importance for Turkey to participate in TIPP process. In this regard, he explained that Turkey would lose in trade and revenue if left out from this process. It is therefore imperative that Turkey starts the negotiations as well and get involves in this process.

During the meeting, the Minister of Economy Nihat Zeybekçi reminded that Turkey managed to rise among upper-middle-income economies and increase tremendously its exports. Minister of Economy Nihat Zeybekçi emphasized on the strategic importance of the United States and the EU as partners.  In regards to the Customs Union established with the EU, Minister Zeybekçi pointed out to the difficulties encountered by Turkey as a result of its absence in the decision making process of the trade policies. Minister Zeybekçi spoke also about the ongoing negotiations of the TIPP between the EU and the United States. He insisted on the importance for Turkey to participate in this process.

TOBB Vice-President Ender Yorgancılar mentioned the importance of the meeting of U.S.-Turkey Framework for Strategic Economic and Commercial Cooperation (FSECC) which will be held next week in United States.