Business world representatives evaluated the historic speech made by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan today in line with the goal of"A Terror-Free Türkiye" and its impact on the process.

ASSESSMENT OF A TERRORISM-FREE Türkiye FROM THE BUSINESS WORLD

Nail Olpak, President of the Foreign Economic Relations Board (DEİK), stated in a written statement that Türkiye is on the verge of ridding itself of the 47-year-old scourge of terrorism thanks to the political will and determination displayed, and announced that a new page has been opened on the road to a"Terror-Free Türkiye" as of July 11.

Olpak said,"As the business world, we welcome the historic messages given by our President today, which seemed symbolic yesterday but have begun to become more concrete with the burning of weapons by the terrorist organization, a step that was extremely important. We see the turning point at which the future of our country and our people is."

Olpak emphasized that the scourge of terrorism, which they have been dealing with for nearly half a century, has caused thousands of lives lost and indescribable suffering that can never be compensated for, and noted the following:

"Furthermore, it has also caused significant economic costs. We were forced to collectively pay the $2 trillion bill our President mentioned and postpone our prosperity, which could have been achieved more easily. Today, we are going through very critical times for Türkiye's security and the peace and prosperity of our nation. As DEİK, we are aware that these historic developments, which will also pave the way for our country economically, will further strengthen our commercial diplomacy with countries in the region and the world, and that our entire nation will benefit from their positive outcomes."

This new era, which has opened and which we believe will continue to unfold, means more investment, more production, more employment, and better days and a better future for our Turkey, which has achieved its internal unity. And as the business community, we will continue to strive to further enhance our country's regional and global power by establishing the necessary environment of trust.

Nail Olpak emphasized that they will never forget the heroic martyrs and veterans during this process and that they will work even harder to pass on their legacy to future generations, both politically and economically.

Olpak, who shared his view that"Expanding what we have and achieving new successes with strong steps is now much more possible," said,"As the business world, we are aware of our responsibilities in the 'Terror-Free Turkey' process. With this awareness, we hope that both the steps taken and the steps to be taken will be beneficial, and we experience the excitement and pride of a bigger and stronger Türkiye."

Turkish Exporters Assembly (TİM) Chairman Mustafa Gültepe reminded that Türkiye has suffered greatly due to terrorism for over 40 years, and that thousands of people, including soldiers, police officers and civilians, have lost their lives in the intervening period.

Gültepe, who said,"First of all, I wish God's mercy to our martyrs and health and long life to our veterans," made the following assessments:

Following the steps taken since the first day of the process launched with the goal of a terror-free Turkey, I consider today's messages from our President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan a historic turning point for our country and hope they will be beneficial for our nation. I reiterate our belief that by removing terrorism from Turkey's agenda, an environment of trust and stability will facilitate new initiatives not only within our country but also with our neighbors in the region. Considering the impressions we gained during our visit to Iraq in recent months and the developments in Syria, the resulting atmosphere of trust will contribute to the 'Path of Development,' which offers great opportunities for the countries of the region, and open the door to new collaborations.

Gültepe expressed his belief that if resources are transformed into production and investment in this new era shaped by a climate of peace and tranquility, social welfare will rapidly rise to a higher level and the goal of making Türkiye one of the top 10 export countries will be achieved more quickly.

"WE WILL FULFILL EVERY RESPONSIBILITY THAT COMES TO US DURING THIS PROCESS FULLY FROM NOW ON"

Istanbul Chamber of Commerce (ITO) President Şekib Avdagiç also stated that the business world sees President Erdoğan's historic messages today, following the PKK terrorist organization's arms surrender process, as a turning point for Türkiye's future.

Avdagiç continued his words as follows:

In the new era, the strong ties established from Mosul and Kirkuk to Istanbul, from Damascus to Ankara, and from Aleppo to Izmir will add hundreds of billions of dollars in production and investment power to both the Turkish and regional economies. With President Erdoğan's latest statement, thousands of years of Turkish history, stretching from the Great Wall of China to the Adriatic, have gained a new vision. This development will pave the way for our country not only in politics but also in the economy, strengthening its domestic front. It will ensure that Türkiye emerges as a regional and global economic power and that its full weight is felt.

From this day forward, Türkiye's unique human and entrepreneurial resources—Turks, Kurds, Arabs, Circassians, and Laz—will unite to build new economic successes under the shadow of peace. As the business community, we will fully fulfill every responsibility we bear in the"Terror-Free Turkey" process, just as we have done so far. Without harming the precious memories of our heroic martyrs and veterans, we will uphold their legacy and build a great Türkiye with our youth, who will protect and grow our homeland through production.

Erdal Bahçıvan, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ISO), emphasized that the commencement of the PKK's weapons handover process, which is a critical threshold towards the goal of a"Terror-Free Turkey," is a historic step that will have multidimensional and profound effects for Turkey and the region.

Bahçıvan made the following assessments:

"We are witnessing the beginning of a very important process that will ensure the stability and peace of our country, the strengthening of our national unity and solidarity, and the leaving behind of psychological and social traumas, in terms of ending social polarization by building bridges of dialogue together.

I consider this new climate, which holds great hope for the full establishment of social trust, peace, and tranquility, to be crucial because it will make Türkiye more attractive to both domestic and international investments and lay the groundwork for a period of inclusive development in every field, from education and healthcare to energy and defense, agriculture and tourism. I also find it valuable that this new process will also be a strong step toward removing obstacles to regional stability, trade, and economic cooperation, and thus ensuring the construction of a more integrated economic structure in the Middle East.

ICI President Bahçıvan thanked all parties who worked and contributed to the process towards peace and stability.

"Türkiye WILL BE THE WINNER IN SAFE HARBOR"

Orhan Aydın, Chairman of the Anatolian Lions Businessmen's Association (ASKON), stated that they appreciate the steps taken towards a"Terrorism-Free Turkey," adding that thanks to these steps, Türkiye will become a much safer haven, and that a stronger and greater Turkey of the future will be built in these safe havens.

Emphasizing that Türkiye will be the winner, Aydın also stated that Türkiye's historic success will bring peace and tranquility to the region and make significant contributions to its trade and economy.

Aydın stated that Türkiye has been forced to live with the scourge of terrorism, which has been draining its lives, economy, and stability for years, and made the following statements:

We have had many heroic martyrs. This scourge has always hung over us like a dark cloud. Thankfully, thanks to the progress made in our domestic and national defense industry and the stable administration in recent years, we have not allowed terrorism to pass. At this point, we thankfully see that, thanks to the strong will of our President Erdoğan and Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) Leader Devlet Bahçeli, the separatist organization has been disarmed. As the business world, we are extremely pleased with this situation on behalf of our country. We express our gratitude on behalf of the business world for this good news that has come after 47 years. In a terror-free Türkiye, our resources will be used more efficiently.

In this environment, we will see an increase in long-term investments in infrastructure, energy, tourism, agriculture, and manufacturing. Foreign capital's perspective on Türkiye will change. This will allow the allocated budget to be directed more towards productivity-enhancing areas such as education, healthcare, and technology. This environment will also contribute to social peace. It will increase labor mobility and contribute to addressing interregional imbalances in education, production, and employment. An improvement in the investment climate will also boost long-term and sustainable growth rates. Regardless of your perspective, Türkiye will be the winner in an environment of peace and security.

Pointing out that Türkiye will be the winner in safe harbors, Aydın stated that the region will be revitalized once the pressures end in a terror-free environment.

Aydın commented,"This also means that the countries and peoples of the region will be more prosperous. Political success here will also bring economic success. Investment and cooperation among the countries of the region will increase even more."

Gürkan Yıldırım, Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Turkish Young Businessmen Association (TÜGİAD), stated that ending terrorism and establishing a permanent atmosphere of peace is not only a political goal but also a vital necessity for Türkiye's economic and social development.

Yıldırım stated that the terrorist organization PKK laying down arms and President Erdoğan's statements will be the beginning of a huge potential for the Turkish economy, and shared the following views:

Years of conflict, particularly in the Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia regions, have hindered investment, limited employment opportunities, and virtually paralyzed the regional economy. The silencing of the guns and the elimination of security concerns will create an attractive environment for both domestic and foreign investors. The region's natural resources, young population, and strategic location will offer significant opportunities for the implementation of new factories, businesses, and infrastructure projects. Furthermore, Eastern and Southeastern Anatolia's unique tourism potential, with its thousands of years of historical and cultural heritage, will be fully utilized in a safe environment. The number of tourists visiting the region will increase, and tourism revenues will multiply. In this region, a hub for agriculture and animal husbandry, lands left uncultivated or uncultivated due to terrorism will be brought back into production, and farmers forced to migrate will be able to return to their lands. This will contribute to both our food security and accelerate rural development.

Yıldırım emphasized that the development of transportation, energy, and communication infrastructure in the region has been disrupted due to terrorism, and stated that these projects will also gain momentum, the region's integration with other regions will be strengthened, and trade volume will increase.

Yıldırım stated,"In conclusion, the PKK terrorist organization's laying down arms is a unique opportunity for Türkiye to rise not only economically but also socially. As the business community, we are ready to do our part at every stage of this process. Our greatest desire is to be among the architects of peace and development through our investments, employment creation efforts, and social responsibility projects. On this occasion, we hope that this critical step for the future of our country will be taken as soon as possible and that a lasting peace will be established."