Turkish Exporters Assembly

Rising protectionism is hurting the performance of Turkish exporters, head of Turkish Exporters Assembly (T?M) said on Oct. 5.

In a speech at the G-20 in Istanbul, T?M?s Mehmet Büyükek?i said, ?Protectionism is increasing in every market around the world and it is affecting not only Turkish exports, but also Foreign Direct Investment [FDI] in Turkey.?

Turkey's exports declined 19.8 percent in September year-on-year, the Turkish Exporters Assembly reported Oct. 1.

Exports fell to $10.61 million in September, representing the fifth consecutive month of decline. For the year to date, exports have dropped 10 percent year-on-year to $106.3 billion, according to the report.

A group of Turkish businesspeople are set to head to Iran to seek emerging opportunities in the eastern neighbor on the eve of the abolition of Western sanctions over Tehran's nuclear program. 

It was in the southeastern province of Mardin about 15 years ago when I first met Ebru Baybara Demir. After her tourism education in Istanbul, she went back to her hometown, which was exploring tourism at that time. I remember very well that in those days there were no decent hotels or restaurants in Mardin. 

Two leading members of the Turkish government have been poles apart regarding their attendance of a ceremony in which a controversial Iranian-Turkish businessman, involved in a huge corruption scandal that has since shaken the country, was awarded for his company's high export performance.

Iranian Turkish businessman Reza Zerrab, who was embroiled in Turkey's huge graft probe that went public in December 2013, has been awarded for the high export performance of his company Volgam G?da.

Opposition leader Kemal K?l?çdaro?lu released his party?s election manifesto on the weekend, summing up the economic picture as this: 

Turkey went down to 19th place from 17th place in the list of leading economies in the world. Because its income per capita for the past six years could not cross $10,000, it has fallen into the ?medium income? trap. 

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an has condemned Pope Francis, warning him to not repeat the ?mistake? of describing the mass killings of Ottoman Armenians as ?genocide.?

The change of status between the prime minister and the president was a "smooth transition," Prime Minister Ahmet Davuto?lu said on Jan. 20, referring to President Recep Tayyip Erdo?an's taking over of the presidency in the August elections.

Turkey has moved to revive broken ties with Middle Eastern countries, including Syria, Egypt and the Gulf states, according to Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç, who stressed the "friendship and brotherhood" amid the ongoing crises in bilateral relations.