Switzerland Exclusive

Meeting with 19 leading Swiss corporations’ CEOs in Switzerland, President Gül proclaimed that Turkey, with its high growth rate, young and productive population, is a strong country that creates difference with its economy proving itself to be robust in the global economic crisis. 

Visiting the National Parliament of Switzerland, The President, at the beginning of his speech at the parliament, revealed his pride in being the first Turkish president ever to pay an official visit to Switzerland. President Gül, predicting that his visit would be a new step to bring Turkey and Switzerland closer to each other as two countries which share a deep-rooted history, said they are resolute in carrying their bilateral relations into the future on the basis of values such as democracy, human rights, the rule of law and equality

The relations between the two countries, the President continued, have great potential in the fields of economy, trade, education, science and culture. “We have taken remarkable steps toward realizing this potential recently, indeed. We have made considerable progress to develop the basis of our commerce and investments especially.

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President Abdullah Gül and his Swiss counterpart, Doris Leuthard, held a joint press conference after the bilateral talks and the talks between their delegations. the president further informed the press that they had tackled the bilateral relations between the two countries and other regional developments during the inter-delegational talks, declaring that the bilateral relations would be enhanced. The President also underscored more opportunities for collaboration in the economy between Turkey and Switzerland, both of which already enjoy great cooperation in politics.

Evincing her happiness to welcome President Gül to her country, President Leuthard also shared her wish to develop the 50 year-long diplomatic relations between Turkey and Switzerland. She later asserted that both Turkey and Switzerland have managed to overcome the global economic crisis and congratulated Turkey for the fact that it seemed to have been exposed to this crisis less than Switzerland.

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The First Couple, after having completed their programs in Bern, proceeded to the city of Zurich. President Gül along with his Swiss counterpart attended a round table meeting with senior businessmen held by “Economiesuisse”.

During his speech, the President proclaimed that Turkey, with its high growth rate, young and productive population, is a strong country that creates difference with its economy proving itself to be robust in the global economic crisis.

Further indicating that Turkey is the fastest growing country among the OECD countries, President Gül asserted that with this performance, Turkey is compared to China. Turkey’s inflation rate is at one digit and its unemployment rate is going down, he declared. “Turkey, as some experts point out, has become Europe’s healthiest man recently. The value of the shares in the Istanbul Stock Exchange is breaking records. Direct and portfolio investments are gradually growing in Turkey and its public finance is strong and stable. According to respected ratings bureau, Turkey is expected to be the world’s second fastest growing economy in 2017,” the President said.

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President Abdullah Gül and his Swiss counterpart, President Doris Leuthard, attended the Cleantech Forum in Zurich during which the former delivered a speech, drawing attention to the many technological advancements in Turkey. The President, underscoring the significance of working together on renewable energy resources, said: “The road to  more secure, sustainable and economic energy depends heavily on increasing efficiency and widening the use of clean energy technologies. In this context, renewable energy sources will have a central role to play. The potential is unquestionably large. But how quickly they can contribute to the world’s energy demand depends on our support to stimulate technological advances. Our support for renewables can, in principle, be justified by the long-term economic, energy security and environmental gains they can bring. One must not forget that support mechanisms have to be cost-effective as well. However, the greatest scope for increasing the use of renewables lies in the power sector.”

There are great opportunities for cooperation between Turkey and Switzerland regarding clean energy technologies, President Gül declared. He also noted that the challenge before Turkey is to set a fine balance between its sustainable development objectives and the growing energy demand through improved efficiency and an increased share of renewable energy. “Our share of renewable energy is already high when compared with the EU countries,” stated the President.

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After the forum, President Gül and Mrs. Hayrünnisa Gül along with President Leuthard of the Confederation of Switzerland and her spouse, Mr. Roland Hausin enjoyed a boat tour on Lake Zurich. Afterwards, at the Dolder Grand Hotel, President Gül met with a group of Turkish expatriates residing in Switzerland.

First Lady Hayrünnisa Gül, accompanying President Gül on his visit to the Confederation of Switzerland, explored the city of Bern by walking with her counterpart, Mr. Roland Hausin, after the ceremony held at the Swiss Parliament.

Exploring several historical places, including the Bern Clock Tower, the First Lady also visited the house where renowned physicist, Albert Einstein, lived.

Afterwards, she along with Mr. Hausin paid a visit to the Museum of Bern, where they were welcomed by the curator and other officials. The First Lady then proceeded to the sections where some works of Einstein are displayed. She was given a photo-copy of the passport Einstein used. Mrs. Gül and Mr. Hausin examined the engraved swords in the sections where there are some works from Ottoman times, Iran and Syria.

President Gül and Mrs. Hayrünnisa Gül along with President Leuthard and her spouse, Mr. Hausin proceeded to the city of Zurich.

Mrs. Gül and Mr. Hausin later explored the Beyer Clock and Watch Museum which shows timepieces of all kinds starting out with basic non-mechanical clocks.

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