Naki Karaaslan: "Business loves peace"

The experts have described trade and economic cooperation between Russia and Turkey, as stable and progressive until last year's crisis in relations between Moscow and Ankara. At that time, mutual investments between Turkey and Russia reached the level of multidimensional partnership. Turkish and Russian business invested in the high-tech sphere, machinery, metallurgy; economic institutions have established direct dialogue in order to overcome trade barriers and to quickly resolve problems of specific companies and businessmen. But the situation has drastically changed since November of last year. After Turkey shot down Russian plane, Moscow has introduced special economic measures against Turkey - Russian companies were forbidden to hire citizens of Turkey, the import of Turkish goods into Russia was banned, Turkish organizations in Russia were restricted, charters canceled. After the official political reconciliation, Moscow and Ankara decided to return to normal business life step-by-step. According to the Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, "it is necessary to, on the one hand, abolish restrictions based on the improvement of overall political background, but not at the expense of Russian producers and those partners, who have already taken certain niches of the Russian market." 

President of the Association of Russian and Turkish Businessmen Naki Karaaslan spoke about the current stage of Russian-Turkish business relations in an interview with Vestnik Kavkaza.

- What can you tell about business relations between the two countries?

- Russian-Turkish relations exist for over 500 years, since the times of the Ottoman and Russian empires. Today Russia and Turkey have special relations - we are partners, not competitors. We live in politically interesting time, which can't be called peaceful. But Russian-Turkish economic relations are developing very actively. We discuss the establishment of a dialogue between the two countries in the field of business, culture and tourism. I think we will see new contracts and projects within month and a half. I mead business contacts, cooperation between the construction companies in particular.

- More than a month passed since the visit of Turkey's President Erdogan to Russia. What has been done in the field of business during this period? What changed? 

- A lot of things have changed. Charter flights are back. Business loves peace. Politics and business depend on each other directly. If you feel that this or that country is uncomfortable, how can you do business with it? We are working for almost 25 years - there were turbulent times, but there were much more good things. Right now there is more than 100 thousand Turkish-Russian families. This is our future. Most importantly, these families live and raise their children in two cultures. Our children will create a new future of Russian-Turkish relations.

- How many Turkish companies are in the Russian market today?

- More than 9 thousand. Over hundred thousand people are working in the Turkish companies. At the same time, 98% of the jobs are occupied by Russian citizens.Around 13 billion dollars were invested in it. We mainly invested in the production. But now a lot of new companies are opening, a lot of social programs are being created. So there will be more jobs, more companies, hospitals and schools. We have lost a lot of time, and now it is necessary to accelerate all processes. 

- What else Turkish business needs in the Russian market?

- There are a lot of unresolved economic problems in the world. The Russian economy has its own special problems. Business likes to work safely, it doesn't like regression. Those are the main problems.

- Are the rules of business in Russia clear? Is it easy to do business in Turkey?

- The Russian business feels comfortable in Turkey because Ankara needs foreign investments. So there is a green light for everyone, not only for Russians. Russian companies have invested 20 billion in Turkey. Sberbank carries out the most successful abroad operations in Turkey. Businessmen love to work with their banks, in particular due to the language barrier. 

Both Turkey and Russia are very profitable countries. Our nations are very similar. We have many similarities in personalities, in the business. It is very important. I love Russia. I'm 50, I spent 26 years of my life in Istanbul and 24 in Moscow. Both of these cities are like home to me. Many Turks live here, and we must share our culture and history.