President to industrialists: "Don't get complacent"

President Abdullah Gul yesterday warned Turkish industrialists to avoid resting on their laurels and being deceived by recent positive signs in the global and domestic economies that the crisis may be ending. "Countries where the crisis started continue to be vulnerable," he told a conference on the Turkish furniture industry held in his hometown of Kayseri, hosted by the Kayseri Chamber of Industry, and co-organized by the Turkish Industrialists and Businessmen's Association (TUSIAD) and the Federation of Industrial Associations (SEDEFED). Gul, the keynote speaker at the conference, compared economic sectors to the gears of a machine. "If the gears turn smoothly, they turn larger wheels without any problem," he said. Underlining that analyses are commonly based on macroeconomic indicators, Gul warned that such analyses can be deceptive. This is especially important when economies are being tested by global crisis, he said, adding that everyone should stay cautious while doing business in this still-vulnerable environment. "Troubles still plague Europe, and they will continue," he said. "Turkey is easily affected by these developments as it is heavily interdependent on the world economy." Gul also said global conditions, rather than businessmen, had caused the decline in Turkish exports. "The slide in our exports isn't due to the inability of our exporters, but the fall in the purchasing power of our customers," Gul asserted. He further commented on the disadvantage of relying heavily on trade and services to the detriment of industry. "Turkey has to become a center of production with a deep-rooted structure of production," he said. "If a country lacks a strong, entrenched production structure, it will have no choice but to import and sell what it buys from others. But such a country must always be ready to face troubles." In Kayseri, Gul also addressed a ceremony marking the start of the 2009-2010 academic year at Erciyes University, urging the country's universities to discuss and produce solutions to Turkey's issues, including the problems of their host cities. Stressing that universities shouldn't squander their energies on partisan political concerns, Gul said they should instead participate in Turkey's administration by reviewing their contributions to the country, and avoiding ideological acts and statements. In another ceremony at Meliksah University, Gul said Turkey needs universities' contributions to develop and improve its economy. At Erciyes University, Gul was also presented an honorary doctorate by Rector Fahrettin Keleştemur.