"Positioning Turkey on the Belt and Road Initiative" report jointly prepared by DEIK Logistics and Turkey-China Business Councils was announced with a press conference on October 17, 2019 in Istanbul. The report assesses the potential trading strategies relating to Turkey's position on China's Belt and Road Initiative. In that framework, policy scenarios, trade, investment and logistic opportunities were discussed during the event.

Deputy Minister of Trade of Turkish Republic Mr Rıza Tuna Turagay, DEIK President Nail Olpak, Turkey-China Business Council Chairman Murat Kolbasi, DEIK Logistics Business Council Chairman Turgut Erkeskin and PwC Turkey Chairman Haluk Yalçın attended press conference with the participation of all stakeholders of the project.

Turagay: "Turkey should definitely be in the Belt and Road Initiative"

Speaking at the meeting, Deputy Minister of Trade Mr Turagay said, Positioning Turkey on the Belt and Road Initiative is a very important step. Stating that the world's trade volume is $ 19.7 trillion, China's total exports are $ 2.5 trillion and its imports are $ 2.1 trillion. China is the world's largest exporter country and the second largest importer in the world after the US in imports. When we look at the growth rates of China, we have seen a slowdown in China for the last 2 years. It is stated that the IMF figures will decrease to 6.1 percent in 2019 and 5.8 percent in 2020. Growth in world trade We see that the rate of development of the rates decreased. "

Mentioning that Made in Chine 2025" project, Mr Turagay said that the reason behind the trade war between the USA and China is the technology and the USA is a country with a trade deficit of about 400 billion dollars. China become more integrated with the world with BRI and noted that for this purpose, Turkey has to take action in BRI.

Stating that the Turkish Business World has a great mission to explain the Peace Spring Operation in the most accurate way in the global arena, DEİK President Nail Olpak said, "While we have a very intense agenda as our country and Turkish business world, on the other hand, we have another political and military arena in line with our national interests. As the business world, we stand against black propaganda with all our connections in different geographies, using all communication channels, to prevent disinfections in the world, for this reason; once again, we are with the Peace Spring Operation. In global trade we are at the beginning stage of a new era as Turkey thanks to the changing dynamics. These changes are important agenda item for Turkey in the light Belt and Road Initiative access. The geopolitical location of our country and the importance it carries in terms of logistics and trade pushed us to prepare such a report. Because one of the missions we undertake as DEIK will shed light on the future of the Turkish business world in the context of economy and trade; To undertake works that both inform and direct the business world. In this report, we examine Belt and Road Project's influence on Turkey's foreign trade and investment attraction performance with 8 different scenarios.