Yılmaz Soycan re-elected as the Chairman of DEİK/Turkey-Belarus Business Council

The Ordinary General Meetings of the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK) Business Councils for 2021 were held in Istanbul on Saturday, January 15, 2022. Yılmaz Soycan, Chairman of the DEİK/Turkey-Belarus Business Council was re-elected chairman in the election he participated with a single list. Saying that Turkey and Belarus have an important potential in trade and investment, Soycan stated that they aim to increase the bilateral foreign trade volume between the two countries to 1.5 billion dollars.

Elective Ordinary General Assemblies of Business Councils of the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK), the leading business diplomacy organization of the Turkish private sector, which has been operating in different fields since 1985 to strengthen the dynamics of the Turkish economy and carry Turkey’s power to the world, was held on Saturday, January 15th. Announcing his candidacy once again this year for the Presidency of the Turkey-Belarus Business Council, Yılmaz Soycan was re-elected as the Chairman in the election he participated in as a single list.

Long-term target in Turkey-Belarus foreign trade volüme is set as 1.5 billion dollars

Yılmaz Soycan, Chairman of the DEİK/Turkey-Belarus Business Council, who was re-elected as chairman by reassuring him in the elections, said: “I am very happy that our esteemed members consider me suitable for the presidency. The votes cast to be appreciated for the work we have done during my term as Chairman and to achieve better results will be an important source of motivation for our work in the future. Turkey and Belarus are two countries with high potential in their own regions and in the world. Especially in recent years, important work has been done between the two countries in the fields of trade and investments. As a result of these efforts, the trade volume between the two countries increased from $708 million in 2019 to $779 million in 2020. In 2021, this figure exceeded 1 billion dollars. Again in 2021, exports from Turkey to Belarus reached 900 million dollars. Our main export items included fruit, vegetables, knitted fabrics, parts and accessories for road vehicles, synthetic fibers and yarns. Our primary goal is to reach 1.5 billion dollars by continuing this success in 2022 and beyond.”

Swap negotiations to support trade in Turkey-Belarus relations

Sharing the expectations for the future of relations between the two countries, Soycan made the following statement: “The largest share in service exports and imports between Turkey and Belarus belongs to transportation. Mutual trade in computers, telecommunications and tourism services also takes place with great potential. Currently, there are more than 130 Turkish-owned enterprises in Belarus. We will implement new projects with the right strategies for the next two years so that the two countries can carry out high-volume businesses. At this point, starting to negotiate a swap agreement between the two countries will contribute to export-import activities. In addition, competition laws need to be regulated in accordance with international standards to protect entrepreneurs and investors. Enabling the Turkish private sector to carry out projects in Belarus, especially in construction, in which successful projects are undertaken, will enable bilateral trade to reach higher levels”.