Job Opportunities in the Country were Discussed in Canada Country Day Held by ICI

• 05.03.2019
• News

Istanbul Chamber of Industry (ICI) organized Canada Country Day and Investment Opportunities seminar to present opportunities in Canada which has one of the most developed countries in the world to Turkish industrialists and business people. Ulric Shannon, Istanbul Consular General of Canada participated in the event held in Odakule which was chaired by İrfan Özhamaratlı, the ICI Deputy Chairman of Board of Directors. Numerous industrialists and business people showed interest towards the event.

İrfan Özhamaratlı, the ICI Deputy Chairman of Board of Directors said that Canada has a bridge role between North America market and fast developing Asian economies. Özhamaratlı expressed that Canada is the ninth biggest consumer market of the world with its strategic position. Stating that Canada provides an opportunity to reach a consumer mass over 443 million thanks to North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between USA and Mexico, Özhamaratlı recorded that the country is one of the most dynamic economies in the world with its safe business and investment environment.

İrfan Özhamaratlı, the ICI Deputy
Chairman of Board of Directors

Touching upon the fact that 85% of export activities of Canada consists of industrial products while 15% consists of agricultural products, Özhamaratlı provided the information that the leading export products to Canada are steel rods and automobiles. Pointing out that generally raw material and semi-finished products come to the forefront in the import carried out from Canada, Özhamaratlı stated that Türkiye imports gold, legume, helicopters, satellites, spacecrafts and anthracites from Canada.

Mentioning about CETA free trade agreement which was signed between EU and Canada in 2016, Özhamaratlı emphasized that this agreement is of critical importance in terms of world trade. Stating that EU should continue to sign such comprehensive trade agreements with big economies to maintain its role and importance in the world trade, Özharamatlı reminded that the country has acquired the right to import its products into Türkiye free of duty thanks to this agreement. Providing the information that Turkish products are still subject to Canada customs taxes, therefore, Özhamaratlı underlined that signing a free trade agreement between the countries is of crucial importance

Osman Okyay, the Chairman of
Türkiye-Canada Works Council and
Deputy Chairman of Kale Group

Osman Okyay, the Chairman of Türkiye-Canada Works Council and Deputy Chairman of Kale Group and Chairman of Technical Department participated in Experiences of Companies Operating in Canada panel. Sharing business experiences which they went through as Group and the opportunities in this country with the participants, Okyay answered the participants’ questions.

Ulric Shannon, Istanbul Consular General of Canada coming to the rostrum said that Canada wants to develop their business relations with Türkiye. Stating that there is a huge economic potential between the two countries, Shannon recorded that the business world has just begun to realize this fact. Telling that the business people of two countries can not only carry out commercial activities but also make investments in third countries, Shannon told that there have been researches in this field in especially infrastructure and energy sectors. Sharing information about the general characteristics of economy of Canada, Shannon touched upon they caught a significant success story between OECD countries with high growth and low inflation figures.

Ulric Shannon, Istanbul Consular
General of Canada

Reminding that Canada is rich in natural resources, Shannon expressed that it is the biggest country of the mining sector. Emphasizing that they have a desire to diversify the sectors, Shannon stated that the subjects such as space technologies and modern agriculture applications are supported by the government. Shannon stated that they are in the leader position among G20 countries in terms of R&D. Shannon told that Canada provides numerous opportunities for foreign investors and they want Turkish entrepreneurs to use these opportunities.

Oya Benli Özbaş, the Export Development Expert of Ministry of Trade, Dan Kelly, the CEO of Canadian Federation of Independent Business, Ela Uluatam from Consular General of Canada, Eugene Gierczak from Miller Thomson Law Office and Ezgi Çelik from Canada Embassy provided information about Canadian economy.

Osman Okyay, the Chairman of Türkiye-Canada Works Council and Deputy Chairman of Kale Group and Chairman of Technical Department, Aslan Doğan, the CEO of Etiya, İlker İnanç, the Ceo of Twentify shared their experiences which they went through as result of their investments in Canada in Experiences of Companies Operating in Canada panel. Following the panel, questions of the listeners were answered by the participants.