The possibilities for strengthening the private sector were discussed at the Private Sector Empowerment Summit organized by the Democrat Party (DP).
Throughout the day yesterday, at the Concorde Hotel in the capital, Lefkoşa roundtable discussions were held to explore what steps could be taken to bolster the private sector.
The summit, taking place at the Concorde Hotel in Lefkoşa, began with an opening speech by Prof. Dr. Neriman Saygılı, the Chairman of the DP Social Responsibility Committee.
Saygılı noted that discussions during the summit would focus on strategies for strengthening various sectors such as tourism, education, information technology, industry, agriculture, animal husbandry, and construction, without discrimination.
DP Secretary General and MP Serhat Akpınar emphasized the vital importance of the private sector for the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC), advocating for increased government incentives and support for businesses of all sizes.
He stressed the necessity of addressing difficulties in accessing financial resources and providing suitable credit and financing options for the private sector, suggesting the establishment of government-backed credit interest protection systems.
The leader of the Social Democratic Party (TDP) Zeki Çeler who also attended the opening expressed concern about the lack of a self-sustaining structure in the country and emphasized the need to strengthen the private sector without political bias, encouraging the promotion of local workforce and protection of local capital.
The Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Hüseyin Çavuş, spoke at the opening of the summit, acknowledging potential economic challenges but expressing optimism that the workshop would identify deficiencies and strengthen sustainability, providing a roadmap for the future.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Culture, Youth and Environment, Fikri Ataoğlu, highlighted the importance of narrowing the gap between the private sector and the government, emphasizing the need for all sector representatives to come together to outline a roadmap.
President Ersin Tatar reiterated the importance of the summit for the private sector, stressing its contribution to the country’s development and the necessity for state support.
He emphasized the importance of maintaining a balance in e-government, taxation, support systems, incentives, resources, and repayments, and reiterated the significance of meritocracy in both public and private sectors.
Tatar also addressed the Cyprus issue, stating that he had conveyed the new policies to the UN personal envoy he met with the previous day, underscoring the necessity of recognizing the sovereignty of the Turkish Cypriot people.brt
