Minister Bolat, in his speech at the Arctic Panel Program and Diplomatic Missions Reception held at the Independent Industrialists' and Businessmen's Association (MÜSİAD) Headquarters, thanked MÜSİAD for organizing the MÜSİAD EXPO 2026 International Trade Fair and Arctic Panel Program and Diplomatic Missions Reception.
Stating that MÜSİAD EXPO is held every 2 years with the intense participation of international participants from all over the world, Bolat hoped that the participants and visitors from Türkiye and many countries of the world will benefit from these events.
Bolat stated that they were in New York for 3 days with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and a large delegation from the public and private sectors, and said, "In his important speech at the United Nations General Assembly, our President underlined the shortcomings of the current United Nations system. He also brought up the situation in Palestine, Gaza, West Bank and Lebanon, where Israel has been continuing its attacks for 3 years." he said.
Stating that an important development they witnessed here was that many world leaders gave solidarity messages to the Palestinians and expressed their opinions to stop Israel's attacks, Bolat said, "The third notable development at the UN session was that the General Assembly hall was empty when the Israeli Prime Minister started to speak. These were among the most prominent developments of this year's United Nations General Assembly." he said.
"WE HELD TRADE AND INVESTMENT CONFERENCES IN NEW YORK"
Minister Bolat stated that they also held trade and investment conferences in New York on various occasions and said, "We organize these events every year when we come to New York for the opening meetings of the United Nations General Assembly. Additionally, there is a very strong Turkish diaspora in the USA. We also met with them." he said.
Stating that developing economic relations with North American, Central American and South American countries in every field constitutes one of Türkiye's trade policy strategies, Bolat said, "During the nearly 24-year term of our President Erdoğan, we developed our foreign economic relations with all regions of the world, including America, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia. We continue our work in this direction with great effort and determination." he said.
Stating that he will be in Brussels on Monday morning and will have important meetings with some commissioners of the European Commission, Bolat said, "The European Union has an extremely special and important place in Türkiye's foreign economic relations." he said.
"AFRICAN LEADERS SUMMIT WILL BE HELD IN TRIPOLI, THE CAPITAL OF LIBYA"
Stating that the African Leaders Summit will be held in Tripoli, the capital of Libya, at the beginning of December, Ömer Bolat said, "As Turkey, we have developed our foreign economic relations with all of Africa, regardless of religion or ethnicity. 55-56 countries in Africa testify to Türkiye's friendship and partnership approach in the fields of development, trade and investment." he said.
Minister Bolat pointed out that trade relations with Africa have increased more than 11 times and continued as follows:
"Türkiye's approach to Africa is based on the understanding of friendship, brotherhood, development, growing together and enriching together. In addition, we have a trade strategy with Asian countries and Far East Asian countries that we call 'Distant Countries Strategy', which we have been carrying out for a long time. In this context, we maintain very close relations with these countries. I can also add our developing relations with Australia and New Zealand."
Stating that there has been a Customs Union relationship with the European Union for 30 years, Bolat said, "As a result, the EU is our largest trade partner. We have 24 free trade agreements with countries in different parts of the world. In addition, we have 5 preferential trade agreements with various countries." he said.
Minister Bolat stated that their goal is to be friends and partners with all countries in the world and said, "We extend our hand for friendship and partnership. Our basic philosophy is to conduct our foreign economic relations in line with the win-win principle. Our approach is not 'let us win, you lose' or 'let us lose, you win'." he said.
Stating that the approach based on cooperation and collaboration creates a great environment of friendship and partnership, Bolat said, "MÜSİAD and other business organizations in Türkiye are our friends and partners on this path. We provide them with maximum support wherever they open up to the world. Our doors are open to cooperation and partnership with all countries of the world." he said.
Bolat stated that the world is going through extremely painful and divisive tests in terms of political, geostrategic and economic aspects, as well as trade policies, and said:
