The summit, named in honor of the birth of Azerbaijan's national leader Heydar Aliyev and the 100th anniversary of the Republic of Turkey, brought together nearly 20 companies operating in the construction and equipment, engineering, refrigeration and ventilation, communication and information technologies, packaging, food, education, and customs sectors to discuss collaborations with over 150 OSTİM companies.
The opening ceremony of the 100 Years Summit program was attended by the Deputy Minister of Treasury and Finance of the Republic of Turkey, Dr. İsmail İlhan Hatipoğlu, the Ambassador of Azerbaijan to Ankara, Dr. Reşad Mammadov, the President of Azerbaijan Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises Association (KOBİA), Orhan Mammadov, AK Party Ankara Member of Parliament Zeynep Yıldız, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of OSTİM, Orhan Aydın, the Rector of OSTİM Technical University, Prof. Dr. Murat Yülek, the Chairman of the Ankara Chamber of Commerce Assembly, Mustafa Deryal, KOBSKA Board Member Şirin Şerifov, KOSGEB Deputy President Dr. Fatih Gökyurt, and numerous other guests.
“We all have a big responsibility.”
Orhan Aydın, Chairman of the Board of Directors of OSTİM, the host of the event, stated that OSTİM has a long-standing cooperation with Azerbaijan, which he referred to as a "geography of hearts."
"Our hearts, our eyes, our souls are in Azerbaijan, in Central Asia. We will all work together to ensure that the light there spreads to the world again," said Aydın, noting that there are nearly 400 Azerbaijani students at OSTİM Technical University.
Aydın stated the following: “These brothers and sisters are very valuable to us. They are important human resources that will fill the void in our cooperation efforts and develop sustainable cooperation. In this sense, not only Azerbaijan but also Central Asia is very valuable to us. We have many students from there as well. We are carrying out activities to expand industrial zones similar to OSTİM Organized Industrial Zone in Central Asia in terms of business development. We all have a great responsibility to make the world, which has been made unlivable, livable again. With this awareness, our intention is to strive to build a new world by incorporating trade, art, and industry.”
“Our cooperation is strengthening”
Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO) Assembly President Mustafa Deryal emphasized the strong historical ties and strategic cooperation between Turkey and Azerbaijan, stating, “We are two states, one nation, one structure, united by our shared ancestry, ideas, and hearts.” Deryal added that the intensive efforts of both countries in strategic cooperation have played a pioneering role in many areas.
"Besides our emotional ties, we are also interdependent in energy and transportation resources through oil, natural gas pipelines, and railways," said Deryal, adding that this strategic cooperation between Azerbaijan and Turkey is growing stronger day by day. Referring to the Zangezur Pass in Azerbaijan, Deryal expressed his hope, saying, "May the same happen to the Zangezur Pass, God willing."
Deryal, highlighting the strengthening of trade and economic relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan, stated, "Today, with all our heartfelt ties, we no longer have customs issues, and our visa problems have been eliminated."
KOSGEB is ready to meet the demands.
KOSGEB Deputy Chairman Dr. Fatih Gökyurt announced that the trade volume between Azerbaijan and Turkey reached between 4.5 and 5 billion dollars in 2022. Gökyurt stated that with this volume, Türkiye ranks second in Azerbaijan's foreign trade. He also emphasized the significant role played by Turkish SMEs in this mutual trade volume.
Gökyurt, focusing on the period between 2014-2022, stated that 30,000 businesses achieved a total export value of $17 billion during this time. He added that Türkiye, through KOSGEB (Small and Medium Enterprises Development Organization), is open to and ready to meet cooperation requests from Azerbaijan.
A Turkish free market should be established.
Ostim Technical University Rector Prof. Dr. Murat Yülek stated that Turkey and Azerbaijan are genetically one nation, saying, "We are two separate states, but we shouldn't be two separate economies; we should be one economy." Referring to the Free Market model created by the European Union, Yülek emphasized the need to establish a similar structure among the Turkic Republics.
"There is something called the Free Market, which was established in 1992. We need to create a structure where goods, people, and services flow freely, encompassing not only Azerbaijan but all Turkic Republics," said Yülek, pointing out that this would further strengthen economic cooperation.
Yülek stated that Türkiye and Azerbaijan should unite not only genetically but also economically, adding that creating a common economic area would be beneficial for both countries.
Yülek concluded his remarks by saying, "We say 'two countries, one nation,' and that's exactly what we are; genetically, we are one nation, but we are two separate states. We shouldn't be two separate economies; we should be one economy."
“We must become richer together”
Azerbaijan's Ambassador Dr. Rashad Mammadov called for the establishment of complementary economic relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan, stating, "The market for a factory in Türkiye should be Azerbaijan, and the market for a factory in Azerbaijan should be Turkey."
Mammadov stated that the Turkic world should function as a common market, similar to how the European market operates.
"We must transform the Turkic world into a common market, like the European market," said the Ambassador, adding that steps towards the future should be taken with the goal of economic development and enrichment. Mammadov stated that Turkey and Azerbaijan should develop, prosper, and move forward strongly into the future together.
Ambassador Mammadov concluded by saying, "We must develop, we must become wealthy, and we must move towards the future."
Economic cooperation gained momentum with strong leaders.
Deputy Minister of Treasury and Finance Dr. İsmail İlhan Hatipoğlu stated that relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan are conducted with the understanding of "two states, one nation," adding, "Agreements between our countries are getting stronger every day." Hatipoğlu stated that the fraternal relationship between Turkey and Azerbaijan has transformed into an official alliance, a status they have formalized with the Shusha Declaration.
“Under the leadership of our Presidents Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Ilham Aliyev, the developing economic cooperation between the two countries is being strengthened by Turkish and Azerbaijani business people,” said Hatipoğlu, emphasizing that economic cooperation has gained momentum under this strong leadership. Hatipoğlu announced that the trade volume between the two countries reached its peak level of 3.9 billion dollars as of September 2023.
Hatipoğlu stated that the economic relations between Turkey and Azerbaijan reflect a strong solidarity not only between the two states but also between their peoples, and expressed his belief that these relations will be further strengthened by evaluating the potential for future cooperation.
The visiting delegation then toured Ostim Technopark and OSTİM Technical University.
You can watch the live broadcast recording of the program.
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