“From the Middle Corridor to a Shared Production Ecosystem: An Economic Model in the Turkic World”
Binali Yıldırım, Chairman of the Council of Elders of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS), attended the panel entitled “From the Middle Corridor to a Shared Production Ecosystem: An Economic Model in the Turkic World”, held as part of the Turkic World Dialogue Forum organized by the Directorate of Communications.
Speaking at the opening of the panel, Binali Yıldırım stated that the present and future of the Turkic world had been discussed at the 13th Summit of the Council of Heads of State of the OTS, held in Ankara, and that a highly significant declaration had been shared with the public.
Yıldırım drew attention to the fact that 800 million people were living in extreme poverty in a world marked by considerable uncertainty and limited economic growth.
Stating that the Turkic states were working to address these imbalances and inequalities at the global level, Yıldırım emphasized that the Middle Corridor should not be viewed merely as a transport route.
Yıldırım noted that the Middle Corridor offered the highest added value among the routes compared with the Northern and Southern Corridors, stressing that transportation was not trade in itself but rather a means of increasing trade.
“The TRNC is an integral and indispensable member of the Turkish world”
Pointing out that the volume of freight transported along the Middle Corridor could be increased to 30 million tonnes, Yıldırım stated that efforts should be made to reduce transit times and facilitate transfers between different modes of transport.
Yıldırım said that the OTS was responsible for identifying the strengths and weaknesses of its member states in this regard, enabling them to capitalize on their respective advantages.
Emphasizing that transportation was only one component of the Middle Corridor, Yıldırım said, "The Middle Corridor is a corridor of prosperity, an economic corridor, a corridor of history and a corridor of culture. What we need to do is establish joint production facilities and joint logistics centers along the entire length of the corridor, from beginning to end.”
Stating that certain countries were attempting to unlawfully plunder the resources of the Eastern Mediterranean, Yıldırım concluded his remarks as follows:
"Our rights and interests arising from international maritime law are being disregarded. We will never allow this. The Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus is an integral and indispensable member of the Turkic world. It is as clear as that. Therefore, subjecting Cyprus to isolating and depriving its people of the opportunities arising from global and regional developments is incompatible with both humanity and international law. We will continue to pursue this cause, and as Turkic states, we will do everything in our power."
