TUSKON says systematic campaign of defamation under way
The Turkish Confederation of Businessmen and Industrialists (TUSKON) has criticized what it calls a "systematic campaign of defamation against the business conglomerate," stressing that its business activities, which help contribute to the Turkish economy, should be welcomed.
TUSKON said in a statement on Saturday that there are seven federations, 212 associations, 54,000 businessmen and more than 140,000 companies represented under its umbrella and that its founding goal has been to help Turkish businessmen expand their trade to foreign markets.
TUSKON estimated that trade deals accounting for more than $30 billion have been signed in the past eight years from the organization's activities. Furthermore, 70,000 businesspersons, including 30,000 foreigners, have participated in 19 business forums called the “Turkey-World Trade Bridge” since 2006. It added that it is a known fact that President Abdullah Gül and other state dignitaries have urged not only TUSKON members but also other Turkish entrepreneurs to invest in Africa.
It added that it is “absolutely normal” to meet with leading business circles and advise them about business opportunities in different parts of the world. “We leave it to the conscience of the public to decide if these projects should be criticized and turned into a defamation campaign or if they deserve applause,” TUSKON said in the statement.
The statement came just days after a voice recording surfaced on social media in which Turkish Islamic scholar Fethullah Gülen and TUSKON Secretary-General Mustafa Günay discussed business opportunities in Uganda. Günay also mentioned gifts of pineapples sent from Uganda. For days, government officials including Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan publicly made fun of the pineapple reference. Erdoğan even said, “We will not allow a pineapple republic in Turkey,” in reference to the phone conversation between Günay and Gülen, which was illegally wiretapped.
Regarding the recent media reports criticizing TUSKON's lobbying efforts for Turkish firms abroad, TUSKON President Rızanur Meral told Today's Zaman that allegations against TUSKON “do not make sense” and that the confederation has always supported Turkish businessmen who want to branch out into global markets. “We will continue our support [for Turkish entrepreneurs],” Meral added.
TUSKON said in the statement that it is Günay's duty to help Turkish businesspersons build commercial relations with Uganda regardless of whether or not they are members of the business organization. During the phone conversation, Günay told Gülen about a bid to manage an oil refinery in Uganda, and Gülen advised him to inform Turkish companies about the opportunity. The statement said it is saddening to see that Günay's efforts to make Turkish companies win the oil refinery tender bid have become the subject of irrelevant debates instead of being appreciated.
The statement said the issue about pineapples is part of the Turkish tradition of giving gifts, adding that the organization rejects making fun of the issue. TUSKON condemned the illegal wiretapping of the phone conversation between Günay and Gülen, and claimed that there has been a defamatory smear campaign based on these recordings. It added that TUSKON has already launched legal complaints against this smear campaign.
- Created on .