Turkey’s top business organization urges parties to solve societal bipolarization

ISTANBUL / ANKARA

Head of the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD) Cansen Başaran Symes. DHA Photo

Turkey’s umbrella business organization, the Union of Chambers of Stock Exchanges (TOBB), and other top business groups have urged the country’s to-be-formed government to focus on the economy in the upcoming period. 

TOBB head Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu congratulated the Justice and Development Party (AKP), which garnered nearly half of the votes at the Nov. 1 polls, and said, “It is now time to focus on economy and reforms,” in a written statement. 

Turkey has once again shown that it has a strong tradition of democracy, the chairman of the largest business organization said, praising the high voter turnout, around 85 percent. 

 “We should not forget that we are all on the same ship and we can overcome all issues when we work in harmony, consulting each other and with common sense,” he said. 

Meanwhile, the Turkish Business and Industry Association (TÜSİAD) said Nov. 2 that the ruling AKP should quickly implement political reforms after it won a strong parliamentary majority in the election. 

The government should also strengthen the European Union accession process, expand freedoms and democracy and end social polarization, TÜSİAD said in an e-mailed statement. 

TÜSİAD has on occasion been at odds with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan over his economic and political stances.   

Another top business group, the Independent Industry and Business Association (MÜSİAD), has praised the election results for the sake of stability in the country. 

Also commenting was Exporters’ Assembly of Turkey (TİM) President Mehmet Büyükekşi, who urged the new government to work on ways to revive exports with a special focus on Turkey’s main market, the European Union.     

“As exporters, we hope to see more focus on achieving structural reforms, which aim to boost exports and industry-based production, maintaining the rule of law and strengthening the independence of the courts,” he said.