The Secretary-General of the Union of Arab Chambers, Dr. Khaled Hanafi, confirmed during his participation in the activities of the Turkish-Arab Forum 2024, which was hosted in Istanbul / Turkey, with the participation of the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States, Dr. Ahmed Aboul Gheit, President of the Federation of Turkish Chambers and Stock Exchanges Rifat Oglu, Turkish Minister of Finance Mehmet Şimşek, and a number of Arab finance ministers, namely: Minister of Finance of the State of Kuwait Noura Suleiman Salem Al-Fassam, Iraqi Minister of Finance Taif Sami Mohammed, Minister of Finance of the Sultanate of Oman Sultan bin Salem bin Saeed Al-Habsi, Egyptian Minister of Finance Mohamed Kushuk, Libyan Minister of Finance Khaled Al-Mabrouk, in addition to prominent official and economic figures from the Arab and Turkish sides, that Turkey’s, economy reaches about a trillion dollars and the Arab world, which exceeds the size of the economy of 3 trillion dollars, while their growth rates were good compared to the accelerating global events, are not only participants in global economic trends, but they are working effectively to shape the features of tomorrow's markets, as our region develops, and the topic of this forum It is itself a "global corridor for investment, trade and technology" that reflects the transformational phase we are undergoing together.
He pointed out that the goal is not to increase the volume of intra-regional trade from $ 90 billion to $ 100 billion or $ 130 but rather to work to make the relationship live up to the level of alliance and strategic partnership, as the global landscape is changing, and in this environment of rapid change, our collective capacity has become our collective ability to Change, innovation, adaptation, and leadership are more important than ever. Turkey and the Arab world are uniquely located, so our strategic locations, rich resources, and vibrant economies form a link between continents, cultures, and trade.
Today, we must explore how we can leverage these strengths to create new avenues for growth and partnership, how to build on the solid foundations laid over the past decade, how to harness the power of new technologies, and how to transform our economies to be more resilient, sustainable and forward-looking.
In a world where the lines between the physical and the digital, local and global, are increasing, the discussions are not only about what we can achieve now but about how to pave the way for the next phase of our economic development. We must delve into emerging opportunities in green energy, fintech, and logistics, and consider how to foster innovation that not only drives economic growth but also improves quality of life across our regions.
He saw that the private sector in both sides, where the Arab sector contributes 75 percent of GDP as well as in terms of job creation, and therefore the private sector can play a prominent and exceptional role in terms of cooperation that is irreplaceable for us, as the success of Turkey and the Arab world will not be measured by economic measures only, but by our ability to create shared value, build partnerships that transcend borders, and purposefully contribute to global prosperity.
Dr. Khaled Hanafi called for guidance and understanding that our actions here will have far-reaching implications. Thus discussing our vision towards a future in which Turkey and the Arab world unite as leaders in the global economy.
I look forward to the insights and ideas that will emerge from today's forum, and I am confident that together we will be able to unlock new possibilities and create a thriving corridor of trade, investment, and innovation that will benefit us all.
Source (Union of Arab Chambers)
