Speaking during a visit to OSTİM, former Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan stated that the source of growth must necessarily be investment, production, and exports. Babacan said, “Spending without earning, borrowing and engaging in luxury consumption is not a sustainable situation for our economy. That is why OSTİM comes first, nothing else. Industry first, production first.”
Former Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly Cemil Çiçek, Deputy Prime Minister Tuğrul Türkeş, parliamentary candidates, and former Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan met with manufacturers from OSTİM. In his speech, Babacan made observations regarding global economic balances in light of geopolitical developments.
“Production and exports are essential for growth”
Stating that the country is going through a period of extremely difficult global economic conditions and security conditions in the region, Babacan said, “In such difficult times, it is very, very important to protect and strengthen the stability and security environment within Turkey.”
"If your position is secure, if there are knowledgeable people at the helm, if the ship's course and direction are clear, that ship will navigate even through the most violent storms and reach its port. In Turkey, we need to keep the ship stable. We need competent, expert people in the captain's cabin," Ali Babacan continued, adding that the priority at the heart of economic policies is maintaining macroeconomic stability.
Babacan, pointing out that the source of growth must necessarily be investment, production, and exports, stated, “We have no other option. First, we will work, produce, earn, and share; then we will share the prosperity we deserve. Spending without earning, borrowing and engaging in luxury consumption is not sustainable for our economy. That is why OSTIM comes first, nothing else. Industry first, production first; we will put our heads together for this.”
“Stability is like a four-wheeled cart”
Former Speaker of the Turkish Grand National Assembly, Cemil Çiçek, also emphasized political stability in his speech. Comparing stability to a four-wheeled cart, Çiçek said, “Not just political stability, but the most important thing is political stability. The others depend on it; if one is missing, the other three cannot exist. One is political stability, the second is economic stability, the third is bureaucratic stability, and the fourth is legal stability. If one tire of a four-wheeled cart is flat, you can only drive it far enough to pull over to the side of the road to prevent an accident or collision. If two tires are flat, the cart remains stuck. Then a tow truck is needed to pull it away. If all three are missing, may God protect that country. Therefore, that tow truck we're talking about is the IMF, international monetary institutions.”
Reminding that Turkey has made significant achievements but still has a long way to go, Çiçek said: “We hope that by 2023, Turkey will be among the top 10 countries in the world so that we can relax a little more. We wish for this. But how will we ensure this? When we look back, the magic word that emerges is stability. If there is no stability, there is no development, if there is no stability, there is no public order, if there is no stability, you are not taken into account. Whatever success you can achieve depending on stability disappears.”
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