Organizing comprehensive activities to contribute to the development of its members and the companies they represent. EGİADhosted the Consul General of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in Izmir, Ayşen Volkan İnanıroğlu, and the Director of the Northern Cyprus Turkish Investment Development Agency (YAGA), Ebru Kaptan Sertoğlu, with the aim of internationalizing the business world and opening up to foreign markets, thus gaining a competitive advantage and a stronger brand image.
EGİAD The “Doing Business with Cyprus Seminar”, which started with the opening speech of the Chairman of the Board of Directors Alp Avni Yelkenbiçer, was held via Zoom with the intense participation of the business world.
Expressing that being able to trade with different countries is becoming increasingly important today, Yelkenbiçer drew attention to the fact that companies focusing only on local markets creates a serious disadvantage in terms of long-term growth and competitiveness, and said, “Opening up to global markets has become an indispensable requirement for companies to achieve sustainable growth and international success. Being present in international markets gives companies the chance to adapt to different competitive conditions. This process allows companies to build more agile, creative and fast-moving organizations. Globalization is not only a growth plan, but also an approach that guarantees the sustainability of the business in the future. Competing in international markets is also an element that forces companies to be more innovative. Understanding different cultures, market dynamics and consumer expectations accelerates new product and service development processes. Companies opening up to foreign markets usually make more R&D investments, which contributes to both their own countries and the world economy.”
Emphasizing that the members who take the lead in opening up to foreign markets will also make significant contributions to the economic development of the city and the country, he stated that the meeting, which was held based on the strong historical and cultural, religious, linguistic and racial unity ties that exist between the Turkish and Turkish Cypriot peoples, will reflect on the relations in a strong and constructive way, and said, “Our country and the TRNC are natural allies who protect, monitor and provide all kinds of support necessary to advance each other's interests and rights in every field. In this context, our country is in the position of being the only bridge connecting the TRNC and the Turkish Cypriots to the world in every field. As a country, we attach great importance to the economic development of the TRNC and we are trying to support the development of the TRNC's infrastructure.”
Expressing that the trade volume between our country and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is also increasing every year, Yelkenbiçer said, “While the foreign trade volume between the two countries was an average of 2015 billion dollars between 2021 and 1,2, it increased to 2022 and 2023 billion dollars in 2,2 and 2,5, respectively. TRNC has a significant tourism potential with its historical and cultural riches, beautiful beaches and natural beauties. TRNC, which has a strategic location in the Middle East and Mediterranean regions, also provides advantages in terms of foreign trade and logistics. We see that significant business and investment opportunities have emerged for our business people in TRNC.”
Consul General of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in Izmir, Ayşen Volkan İnanıroğlu, stated that TRNC should be evaluated not only for its natural beauties but also for the advantages it offers to entrepreneurs, and said, “I would like to invite our investors to TRNC, which is a Trade and Investment Bridge with the Mediterranean. We have an important destination with low cost advantages. Cooperation can be made in many areas, especially tourism, education, yachting, marina management, and agriculture.”
The Director of the Turkish Investment Development Agency (YAGA), Ebru Kaptan Sertoğlu, stated that they are carrying out studies to increase the investments needed for the economic development of the country and to encourage investment, and said, “TRNC has adopted the approach of preferring export-oriented industries. The investment policy is aimed at the export of goods and services. Priority is given to projects that facilitate the transfer of modern technology, technical knowledge, new production techniques to the TRNC and that will provide the highest added value. Each project proposed by investors is considered on its own merits. In the TRNC, where joint venture investments between foreign and local companies are effectively supported, many advantages and incentives are offered to foreign investors, including the full protection of property rights. In the TRNC, the guarantee of private property rights without any distinction between citizens and foreign nationals is guaranteed by the Constitution.”
