THE JAPAN TIMES THURSDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2015 5 Turkish president‘s visit

Building -Japan Biography of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Recep Tayyip Erdogan was born in which was recommended by the National on Feb. 26, 1954. He graduated from Marma- Education Ministry and published by a state ra University’s Faculty of Economics and Ad- agency, being sentenced to prison for read- partnership for the future ministrative Sciences in 1981. ing it, ending his time as mayor. Since his youth, Erdogan has chosen to in- After serving four months in prison, he es- tertwine his social life with politics. From tablished the Justice and Development Party. Both key and in uential players among the top 20 economies of 1969 to 1982, he was also actively interested Erdogan, who was not a candidate for MP in their regions, Turkey and the world, Turkey became a in football, which taught him the signifi cance during the elections in Nov. 3, 2002, joined the Japan are enjoying warm rela- magnet for foreign investments, of teamwork. These years coincided with the deputy renewal election held on March 9, tions on every level, thanks to the as $145 billion dollars of foreign time when the idealistic young Erdogan 2003, in Siirt. Taking 85 percent of the vote, he vision and farsightedness of their direct investment (FDI) poured began to be interested in social and national became a deputy from Siirt for the 22nd term. leaders, H.E. inars all over Japan, ISPAT led into the country over a period problems and stepped into politics. Taking over the Prime Minister’s offi ce on Recep Tayyip Erdogan and H.E. campaigns, often with the assis- of 10 years.  ese  gures gain Assuming active responsibilities at the March 15, 2003, Erdogan implemented a Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who tance of Japanese companies al- true meaning when compared students’ branch of the National Turkish Stu- number of reforms of crucial importance in made the rapprochement pos- ready doing business in Turkey, with the $15 billion the country dents’ Association during high school and short order with his ideal of a brighter and sible and laid out the plans for creating awareness among Japa- attracted in the 79 years since university, he was elected head of the MSP constantly growing Turkey. an even brighter future. nese business circles. Japanese the foundation of the republic Beyoglu Youth Branch in 1976 and head of Erdogan, in addition to his fruitful initia- Stretching back more than a businesspeople that attended until the beginning of the Jus- the MSP Istanbul Youth Branch the same tives described as a turning point in the his- century, the de ning moment ISPAT-organized investment tice and Development Party year. Holding this position until 1980, he tory of the country in its bid to join the EU, in the relations between the seminars in Japan, were briefed rule in 2002. served as a consultant and senior executive has taken signifi cant steps toward the resolu- Turks and the Japanese was a by their compatriots on Turkey’s With such strong economic in the private sector during the Sept. 12 era tion of the Cyprus problem and toward the naval disaster that happened business climate  rsthand, credentials, even when there is when political parties were closed down. development of effi cient relations with many o the coast of Japan.  e leg- added Turkey to their list when political upheaval in some coun- Erdogan returned to politics with the Wel- countries through his rational foreign policy. acy of the Ertugrul frigate, sunk seeking growth overseas. tries in our vicinity, Turkey fare Party, established in 1983, and was As general chairman of the AK Party, he in a storm on its return voyage It is the result of these close stands as a safe haven of stabil- elected the party’s Beyoglu district head in won a great victory during the parliamentary from a goodwill visit to Japan in contacts and meetings that the ity for Japanese investors, having 1984. In 1985, he was elected the party’s Is- elections held on July 22, 2007, establishing 1890, brought the two geo- business ties between the two fully embraced democratic prin- tanbul provincial head and, the same year, the 60th government of the Republic of Tur- graphically distant, but heartily countries are getting  rmer each ciples and resolutely working on became a member of the ’s key by winning 46.6 percent of the vote. close, peoples together, creat- day, with Japanese investment further improving its business Central Executive Board. Winning 49 percent of the vote, he arose ing a bond out of a tragedy. into Turkey picking up and more environment. In local elections on March 27, 1994, Erdo- triumphant at the end of the parliamentary Resting on mutual under- and more Japanese companies gan was elected mayor of Metropolitan Is- elections held on June 12, 2011, and estab- standing and sympathy, Turkish- considering including Turkey in Towards the tanbul. During his term, he produced correct lished the 61st government. Japanese relations have always their overseas expansion plans. Japanese contributions to Tur- diagnoses and solutions to the chronic prob- Elected the 12th president on Aug. 10, remained warm, with a slow, but Japanese companies that have key’s 2023 vision, a set of tar- lems of Istanbul, one of the world’s most im- 2014, Erdogan is the fi rst president of Turkey steady, progress to match the established business operations gets, including becoming one portant metropolitan cities through his elected by popular vote. level of kinship that exists be- in Turkey now number more of the top-10 economies in the political abilities, the importance he attached tween the peoples. than 200 and the number con- world with a GDP of $2 trillion to teamwork and successful management in This text is an edited excerpts from the tinues to grow. and reaching an export volume human resources and fi nancial issues. offi cial website of the Presidency of the Two leaders, one vision From banking to automotive of $500 billion by the Republic On Dec. 12, 1997, while addressing the Republic of Turkey In recent years, a series of high- and food products to baby of Turkey’s centennial, have public in Siirt, he read a poem from a book, level visits between Turkey and goods, Japanese companies have been enormous. Infrastructure President of the Republic of Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan Japan proved to be the boosters found a central business location projects on a huge scale that the two nations needed to turn that is itself a sizeable market support the 2023 vision such as and the political alignment of talks for an economic partner- but to the world. a long-standing friendship into and, with a location between Eu- the energy cooperation deal the Turkish and Japanese gov- ship agreement (EPA) between Undoubtedly, more hard President’s agenda in Japan a strategic partnership. A new rope and Asia, o ers easy access inked in 2013 that calls for the ernments regarding global is- Turkey and Japan have reached work on both sides is needed to era in Turkish-Japanese rela- to Eastern Europe, Central Asia, building of a nuclear power sues indicate much greater advanced stages and once talks realize the true potential of Tur-  e President of the Republic of 2014, and his  rst as president. tions began with o cial bilat- the Middle East, North Africa plant on Turkey’s Black Sea cooperation in the near future. conclude, the EPA will form the key and Japan, but the strong will Turkey Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Despite having an overly eral visits by the leaders of both and beyond. coast by a Japanese-led consor- And rightly so, as the current basis of a more balanced trade of our leaders and peoples en- together with his wife, Mrs. busy schedule during the short countries that opened new win- tium and expected to cost $22 levels of business, trade and in- of goods and services between sure that the future of Emine Erdogan, is paying an of- visit, Erdogan will address a dows of opportunities for busi- Strong fi scal credentials billion, indicate the level of in- vestment ties between Turkey Turkey and Japan. Turkish-Japanese cooperation  cial working visit to Japan gathering of Japanese business- ness, trade and investment. As crucial as they are, Turkey’s volvement by Japan in Turkey. and Japan are far from re ect- Another, but often less-ex- looks bright, matching the his- through Oct. 8. people at Tokyo’s Imperial  e Investment Support and unique geographical location Several other infrastructure ing the true potential of the two plored area of cooperation be- toric quote of Abe as he ad- During his stay in Japan, the Hotel to share his views and Promotion Agency of Turkey nor its 78 million-strong youth- projects including the Marma- countries. tween Turkey and Japan, is dressed the 20th president and his wife are thoughts on the current and fu- (ISPAT), the only o cial organi- ful population are not the only ray, the  rst undersea crossing Japan, one of the world’s-larg- joining forces to do business in Turkish-Japanese Business scheduled to make a state call ture of Turkish-Japanese eco- zation on a national level that is things luring Japanese investors passing under the Bosphorus est FDI contributors, has invest- third-party countries. Turkey Council in , “For Japan on  eir Majesties Emperor nomic cooperation. Jointly tasked with promoting Turkey’s to the country in increasing and the Izmit Bay Crossing ed $1.4 billion in Turkey over the with its strong historic, cultural and Turkey, the borderline of co- Akihito and Empress Michiko organized by ISPAT, the Japan business and investment oppor- numbers. Other major factors Bridge, the fourth-largest sus- last  ve years — a mere fraction and trade ties to its surround- operation is the horizon.” for a luncheon in honor of the External Trade Organization tunities worldwide, proved in- are Turkey’s remarkable eco- pension bridge in the world, of the total of $500 billion the ings, teaming up with Japan, president and his wife. (JETRO) and the Bank of Tokyo- strumental in drawing Japanese nomic accomplishments in the have been shouldered by Japa- country invested globally over which is known for its economic Text provided by the Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Mitsubishi UFJ, the “Turkey In- investment into key sectors, in- last decade; the country more nese companies, pioneers in the period. Once again, the po- power, technological leadership Investment Support and will hold a summit meeting and vestment Seminar” on Oct. 8 cluding energy,  nance, infra- than tripled its GDP since 2002, construction and engineering. litical leadership, intent on form- and pioneering corporations in Promotion Agency of Turkey host a dinner for the president. will bring the best of business structure, automotive and retail. reaching $800 billion as of the Correctly read by many Japa- ing a strategic partnership, has every  eld, can bring enormous (ISPAT)  is is Erdogan’s third visit to opportunities to the Japanese Having staged investment sem- end of 2014. Placing itself nese investors, these signals taken the necessary steps, as bene ts not only to the region, Japan after coming in January investor community.

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