New statements from TÜSİAD President Orhan Turan, targeted by pro-government media: We drove inflation up with wrong policies in 2021

New statements have come from TÜSİAD President Orhan Turan, who was targeted after criticizing the AKP government's economic policies.

12punto 14 February 2025

Speeches delivered at the General Assembly Meeting of the Turkish Industry and Business Association (TÜSİAD) held yesterday (February 13) have dominated the agenda.

TÜSİAD President Orhan Turan criticized the economic management, stating that the fight against inflation must be accelerated. Emphasizing the rule of law, Turan said, "If there is no trust in the law, distrust, uncertainty, and instability will spread everywhere. A systemic risk emerges. Even if it is possible to save the day, the future is put in jeopardy."

TÜSİAD High Advisory Council President Ömer Aras also made striking statements during TÜSİAD's presentation titled "Extraordinary events in political life." In his speech, Aras touched upon the arrest of Zafer Party Chairman Ümit Özdağ, the investigation launched against Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, the arrest of manager Ayşe Barım—who was under investigation for 'monopolization' allegations—in connection with the Gezi Park protests, the arrest of HALK TV Editor-in-Chief Suat Toktaş, and the young lieutenants dismissed from the army.

These remarks by TÜSİAD executives drew reactions from the government front. Pro-government media targeted TÜSİAD in today's newspaper headlines.

TÜSİAD President Orhan Turan made statements on a live broadcast on Sözcü TV following his remarks that dominated the agenda.

Stating that he has been working in NGOs for 21 years, Turan said, "I know Anatolia well. I went to four provinces in the last month. We held our Board of Directors meeting in Adıyaman. We are constantly making statements."

Turan said, "He stated that they represent 4,500 companies. TÜSİAD accounts for 80 percent of foreign trade. Excluding [agriculture], TÜSİAD accounts for 50 percent of employment."

Turan used the following expressions:

"Turkey's growth, enrichment, increase in prosperity, and the increase in the share we receive from the world economy depend on industrialization, digital and green transformation, law, and gender equality... We are probably Turkey's largest organization. Because we produce knowledge."

"WE ARE CONSTANTLY MAKING STATEMENTS"

I have been working in NGOs for 21 years. I know Anatolia well. I went to four provinces in the last month. We held our Board of Directors meeting in Adıyaman.

"I AM A CHILD OF ANATOLIA"

We are constantly making statements. I, as an individual, want to create value where I am. I am a child of Anatolia. I am a child of the Republic; I know the importance of education very well.

TÜSİAD'S 2025 PERSPECTIVE

Europe is also currently experiencing problems in industry. We have identified the problem and the solution in our Perspective 2025. We have gathered them under 11 headings.

The first section is law and democracy, the second is inflation. Fiscal policies, the fight against the informal economy, collecting taxes from areas where they are not collected, public efficiency and savings, budget discipline; we need to support these.

"STRUCTURAL REFORMS ARE IMPORTANT"

Structural reforms are important. If we do not make the necessary reforms in energy, law, education, and industry, I fear we will be talking about the same issues again in three or five years.

Fair distribution must be ensured while growing.

Employment policy must improve. 5 million women and 7 million young people are outside of employment.

EMPHASIS ON LAW AND DEMOCRACY

We have a booklet that proposes 11 problems, solutions, and a roadmap. It will continue every year.

We want to attract international direct investors. We need to create the infrastructure for this. If you look at Turkey's democracy index, as the democracy index increases, income per capita has increased.

We managed well between 2002 and 2011. We attracted international direct investment of more than 3 percent of the gross domestic product.

"WE DROVE INFLATION UP WITH WRONG POLICIES IN 2021"

In 2021, we drove inflation up with wrong policies. Our goal is to reduce high inflation to single digits. As long as we cannot reduce this, we have no chance of being productive.

We did this in the past; we saw 5 percent levels. As the duration extends, stress increases.