News Scan, 9th Jan – PM Erdogan: Nuclear deal to bolster Turkish-Japanese cooperation
Nuclear deal to bolster Turkish-Japanese cooperation – PM Erdogan
Turkey’s second nuclear power plant to be built by a Japanese-led consortium in Sinop on the country’s Black Sea coast will act as a catalyst for further deepening the multi-level cooperation between Turkey and Japan, according to Turkey’s Prime Minister, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
On an official visit to Japan as part of a Far Eastern tour also including Singapore and Malaysia, Turkey’s Prime Minister said that the USD 22 billion nuclear power plant deal would take the already strong Turkish-Japanese cooperation to a higher level. Erdogan called on Japanese companies to seize opportunities in Turkey, both as direct investments and by taking part in infrastructure projects.
“Japanese companies interested in investing in Turkey have our full support at every stage. The Ministry of Economy and the Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey (ISPAT) stand ready to assist any investor”, Erdogan said at a conference organized by Japan’s leading business daily, Nikkei, in Tokyo. Speaking of the importance of the nuclear power plant deal signed between Turkey and Japan last year, Erdogan said that Turkish and Japanese companies were already cooperating on a huge suspension bridge scheduled to be built over Izmit Bay of the Marmara Sea. “A similar cooperation can be realized for the planned bridge over the Canakkale Strait”, Erdogan said, stating that the two countries can take joint steps for the project.
Turkey saw a stellar increase in Japanese investments in recent years. In close cooperation with ISPAT, three of Japan’s largest lenders, BTMU, Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corp (SMBC) and Mizuho Corporate Bank, have made their entries into the country while Sumitomo Rubber Industries, also with ISPAT assistance, is building a tire factory in Central Anatolia for USD 500 million. Japanese car makers Toyota and Honda have been in production in Turkey for decades.
INVEST.GOV.TR
Turkish government moves for more control on judiciary
The ongoing battle between the Justice and Development Party (AKP) and the Hizmet movement of U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gülen is continuing within the judicial theater as the government has submitted a draft law to increase its control over justice at the cost of EU ire.
The move to reshape the Supreme Council of Judges and Prosecutors (HSYK) came only three years after the AKP government reformed the body in line with the EU’s advice.
Signed by AKP lawmakers, the draft law proposes amendments to the structure of the 22-member HSYK, the key judicial body responsible for appointments and other personnel-related issues in the judiciary. It restructures three chambers of the HSYK, while making the justice minister the sole authority able to appoint a new board and set the council’s agenda.
Likewise, it also resets criteria for being selected as a member of the Supreme Court of Appeals and the Justice Academy as part of a government attempt to wrest full control over key judicial bodies. The government-initiated draft law will be discussed at a parliamentary subcommission tomorrow before being sent to the General Assembly.
HURRIYET DAILY NEWS
Turkey to attract high-added value, import-reducing FDI – ISPAT President
Turkey has adopted a policy of attracting high-added-value foreign direct investments (FDI) into the country to reduce imports and increase the competitiveness in its respective sector, according to the President of the Investment Support and Promotion Agency of Turkey (ISPAT).
“Bringing in competitive investments is crucially important for reducing imports”, Ilker Ayci told the daily Dünya, highlighting ISPAT’s efforts in channeling FDI into key sectors such as energy and manufacturing.
“ISPAT actively works around the globe to find and inform investors about investment opportunities in Turkey. Having analyzed Turkey’s import dependencies, we carefully assess key sectors for opportunities to be presented to foreign investors whom we also evaluate based on their activities in Turkey and in the region” , ISPAT President explained with regard to the Agency’s strategy in attracting FDI into Turkey, describing it as pinpointing prospective investors to maximize their contribution to the country.
Expressing his views and expectations for the new year, Ayci said that there were new investments in the pipeline in the fields of banking, participation banking, insurance, energy and energy related technologies. “Turkey’s automotive market is also under close investor watch”, he remarked.
Istanbul’s rise in status as an international financial hub can be observed by the recent entrants into the financial sector”, Ayci said, referring to the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (BTMU) setting up shop in the country, Allianz’s acquisition of the insurance branch of the Turkish bank, Yapi Kredi, and the acquisition of local Denizbank and Citibank Turkey’s consumer banking by Russian Sberbank over the past few years.
INVEST.GOV.TR
Turkish President Gül stresses importance of checks & balances, democracy
At a time when some Western observers suggested that the rule of law is the most significant casualty of the ongoing political turmoil in Turkey, the country’s president has drawn attention to the utmost need for checks and balances within a democracy.
“The foundation of the legitimacy passes through democracy today,” President Abdullah Gül said yesterday as he was addressing military students during a visit to the Turkish Military Academy.
His remarks were made in the context of the dependency of regional and global peace upon the formation of legitimate rules in each country.
“What we call democracy is actually national will. If we expand this a little bit more, it is foundation of democratic states governed by the rule of law,” Gül said. “When we say democratic states governed by the rule of law; it is to say a multi-party system, fair, free and proper elections; everybody’s having clear authorities and responsibilities and having the balance systems which we call ‘checks-balances’ within this system, and governing of these [systems] in an harmony.”
HURRIYET DAILY NEWS
Turkey, Singapore doors of opportunity for one another: PM Erdogan
Turkey and Singapore are like doors of opportunity opening to their regions to one another, Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan said on on Thursday.
“This visit shows the importance of developing relations with Singapore within our vision,” Erdogan said during a joint press conference with his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hslen Loong during his trip to Singapore, the first by a Turkish prime minister in 18 years.
Accompanied by a delegation of around 100 businesspeople, Erdogan held talks and inter-delegation meetings with Loong at Istana Presidential Palace and the two leaders attended signing ceremonies for memoranda of understanding (MOU), including one on the fight against terrorism.
Diplomatic contacts between the two countries have developed since 2009 when then president S. R. Nathan visited Turkey in 2009 to mark 40 years of relations, Erdogan emphasized.
Meanwhile, Loong stated that the two leaders had decided to start negotiations on establishing a free trade agreement (FTA).
“In addition to a free trade agreement, we also talked about civil aviation and increasing the number flights between the two countries, and agreed,” Loong added.
On Thursday, Erdogan was also accepted by Singaporean President Tony Tan Keng Yam.
Erdogan attended a lunch hosted by Loong following the meeting at the presidential palace. Turkey’s Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc, EU Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu and other cabinet members were present at the lunch which was closed to press.
The Turkish prime minister began 2014 with a Far East Tour, accompanied by ministers and businesspeople with economic relations at the top of the agenda. Having visited Japan, the delegation will also travel to Malaysia.
AA
09.01.2014
This is a news-scan from major Turkish papers and internet sites. However, we do not verify above stories neither do we vouch for their accuracy.
