Turkey’s top business organization starts global campaign to favor democracy, Turkish economy

ISTANBUL

Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD) Chairwoman Cansen Başaran Symes

Turkey’s leading business organization has begun a global campaign and issued an advertisement underlining the country’s devotion to democracy and the strength of the Turkish economy in a number of leading papers in the U.S., Germany, France and Britain, following the failed coup attempt. 

The statement by the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD) entitled “Defending the Democratic Constitutional Order in Turkey,” was issued in the Financial Times, Le Monde, the Washington Post and the Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung. 

TÜSİAD, which represents 85 percent of the country’s total foreign trade (excluding energy), some 50 percent of private sector employment and 80 percent of total corporate taxes, noted that the coup attempt late July 15 failed thanks to the mobilization of all segments of society, including the people, political leaders and institutions of Turkey. 

“All of them have expressed their refusal of the violations of the [country’s] institutions and of the constitutional order and their attachment to the principles of the rule of law, fundamental freedoms and human rights,” it said in the advertisement. 

TÜSİAD noted the democratic standards of the EU and the accession process were among the most effective sources of Turkey’s strong democracy and global competitiveness, underlining that today Turkey was the world’s 18th largest economy and fully integrated with global markets. 

“Turkey has clearly proven the breadth of [its] nationwide commitment to democracy. We are confident that Turkey will continue to demonstrate the resilience of its democracy and its commitment to the rule of law. TÜSİAD is and will continue to be an earnest supporter of these universal principles and goals,” concluded the association.