Improving relations with Asia; “A Priority” for developing countries
The usual practice for many developing countries – Turkey to be in the first row – has been struggling to improve commercial relations with developed countries of the western World such as Germany, England, Italy, France (EU countries) and the USA etc…
Whereas in the end developing countries (sounds more decent than underdeveloped) have most often found that time has worked against them and they have given and sometimes even sacrificed much more than they have taken (or benefitted).
This has been the case with Turkey (Republic) all along since its establishment a hundred years ago – not to forget the Ottoman Empire time.
Turkey has always stood on its toes to be rewarded by its most decent and fair allies, The EU and the USA hoping it will gain somethings from its relations with them. It has done almost everything required by its partners to make sure relations are not harmed on the way to development of the country. It goes without saying this good intention has almost always been abused by its partners and Turkey has always refrained from taking necessary measures to equalize.
Whereas the situation now is much different as there are other blocks and not only the western block and the USA, that such developing countries could team up with. In other words developing countries like Turkey do not “have” to be obliged any more.. At least not to the extend they did in the past…
Earlier when an entrepreneur produced some goods for exportation he knew he had to look for customers in European or American market… Whereas now we know the economies in the Eastern World have been doing quite better than the western economies – struggling to survive at the edge of the cliff – where exporters can find reasonably good markets for their products.
To give an example about the strength of Asian economies, at a time when the world economy faces high risks due to Europe’s debt crisis and the deficit of medium term financial plans of the United States and Japan developing Asian economies have become an impetus for the global economy with a 6.6 growth. It is reported for instance that Tajikistan had an impressive growth with 7.5 percent and a single-digit inflation level in 2012.
This is not to ignore that most Asian countries have some common problems such as the need to raise living standards of growing population as well as producing goods and services and these countries should put more effort to improve trade with other member countries of IDB (Islamic Development Bank) and increase foreign investment for sustainable growth.
Another impressive result is that the Islamic banking sector has grown over 30 percent in the past five years in Turkey for instance, surpassing traditional banking sector. Similarly, Indonesia had a 40 percent growth in Islamic banking sector while traditional banking sector grew by 17 percent in the same period.
Thus it is obvious that these new markets could and should be the new targets for businessmen of developing countries. Turkey, has managed to stick to this approach which has in return brought success to the country.
Fairly speaking, an objective statement at this point would be “we should not ignore the function of the government” that has given big support to Turkish business world, in this regard.
22.05.2013
Editor, BTT
