Talat: ‘We should make our economy stronger, because in a case of solution we sholud be economically well prepared to compete with the others.'

Deniz: ‘3-4 years ago we were pessimistic and used to say `where the industry is going, what will happen to us`, but now instead of that we say `we are able to do better, we can do better`.'

Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Commerce decided to give ‘export success prizes' to 5 industrialist who has done the highest export in 2004. The prize ceremony was held on 7th September.

According to this the 1st company is Akgol Ltd with $3.898.773, 2nd company is Tasel Ltd with $3.770.884, 3rd company is Balkan London Ltd with $3.065.206, 4th company is Nicole Manufacturing Ltd $2.765.313, and 5th company is Avunduk Sut Urunleri Ltd with $2.099.870.

Representatives of the companies were awarded at Fair Center with a reception near the pool. President Mehmet Ali Talat, Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer, Minister of Tourism and Economy Dervis Kemal Deniz, Ministery of Education Canan Oztoprak, businessmen and industrialists, government officers, President of Chamber of Industry Salih Tunar and the board members attended the prize ceremony.

The President of Chamber of Industry,MrTunar made the opening speech of the prize ceremony. After the President,Minister of Tourism and Economy Dervis Kemal Deniz, Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer and President Talat continued with speeches.

The prizes were given to 5 companies which made the highest export in 2004. Ceremony ended with a group photo taken.

President Talat said economic struggling and economic development help a lot for political reflection and this is needed for the solution. Recently there is a relief in industry and local manufacturing,however the isolations are still exist. He said he is sure that local production will reach a better position in the future.

Talat, continued his speech by saying: ‘Our industry, our industrialists, our manufacturers are enterprisers, so they work, try to form the future, see the future and pay attention to investment.

If Cyprus problem will be solved and later there will be a different weather, we should compete in this position which needs good economic position, it is a mass.'

President Talat stressed that TRNC economy should be developed and should become stronger in order to have Turkish Cypriots competitively in power in near future when there will be a solution.

Talat added that this is important for to bargain of solution, economical strenght is again important factor, so empowerment of TRNC economy, increase in export and progressing Turkish Cypriots life standard will gain positive ideas in solution. He congratulated the first five companies who made the highest export, the followers as well, he thanked the supporters of economy and wished good luck in their performance.

Prime Minister Ferdi Sabit Soyer mentioned about globalisation, going beyond the boundaries and using technology in order to catch up the time. There is no national borders any more as well as economical and political structure. The economical values around the world is based on sicence and technology, people should use them beneficially and modify them according to their life style. As a society we should have equal conditions to compete with the world. He said Turkish Cypriots have been suffering from high inflation, devaluation and isolation and it is very dfficult to compete with the world under these conditions.

However the changes happened in Cyprus problem effected the society positively and people became more aware of the world and their surroundings. We should transfer this to a permanent action to make progress and make our economy competitive, furthermore accept the idea of moving further as a whole rather than expecting government to offer everything.

As there were many developments in politics, some steps sholud be taken about local manufacturing. One of these is to reset VAT for production vehicles and also pay back of VAT. The law was made and sent to the parliament and it will be approved in the new legislation year. This will help industrialists to compete, invest and develop their technology.

Prime Minister Soyer said the disadvantages of freight should be supported by increasing the income of government. It is the first time in TRNC in 2004, 36% current budget is used from the aid came from Turkey.

In the previous years that was 50%, so the income was increased and spread for different positions. The aid from Turkey was divided for sectors and saved for the future. Soyer said economy should be registered in order to balance rises, taxes, especially to save local production to offer cheaper life for people. This will increase the purchase power and offers competitive advantage on South Cyprus. Tourism and other economical sources will be the target for businessmen to invest and ask support from the government.

Businessmen should apply the decisions rapidly and try to employ more people to develop the economy and make young generation more useful. By offering jobs for young generation they will be fixed to live in Cyprus. Prime Minister Soyer said, ‘We will success with these ideas and in the beginning of 21st century Turkish Cypriots has an aim of solution. It should be with equal rights, democratic, productive and hold the similar rights like the other people.'

Dervis Kemal Deniz, Minister of Tourism and Economy said TRNC industry is going further slowly and 3-4 years ago we used to say ‘where the industry is going,what will we do', but now we say ‘we can do better, from now on we will go further' instead of pessimistic ideas.

Deniz said these statements make member of government and the government very happy. This confirms that they are on the right track and they will continue like this.

TRNC industrialists are both lucky and unlucky according to MrDeniz. He said, ‘It is lucky, because it is a strategic region of the Middle East. If political conditions will change, it will make the highest export to Middle East countries. It is unlucky, because there is competition with both Turkish and South Cyprus industrialists.

The Minister said government and industrialists should do some arrangements among themselves and government has to offer better conditions to businessmen. He congratulates all industrialists, especially the ones who will get the prizes and all the others that promoted Cyprus abroad. They have a great role in marketing the country.

The President of Cyprus Turkish Chamber of Industry, Salih Tunar mentioned that it is the first time in 6th Local Products Fair that they decided to award best 5 industrialists according to the amount of export they did in 2004.

The folowing companies were selected as best five and there are many more that are doing great job, but doing highest export in these hard conditions is an appreciable job. According to this the 1st company is Akgol Ltd with $3.898.773, 2nd company is Tasel Ltd with $3.770.884, 3rd company is Balkan London Ltd with $3.065.206, 4th company is Nicole Manufacturing Ltd $2.765.313, and 5th company is Avunduk Sut Urunleri Ltd with $2.099.870. I would like to thank and congratulate all the other companies that I could not count their names now. I hope they will do greater jobs.

Mr Tunar said equal production and marketing conditions will make Turkish Cypriot manufacturers to be successfful in all fields they attempt.

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