Lessons for Iraq from Turkey’s Transformation Experience… TEPAV Analyst Ozan Acar delivered a presentation at the workshop held in the context of the Private Sector Development Programme for Iraq carried out by the UNDP.
ISTANBUL – The United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Istanbul International Center for Private Sector in Development organized a workshop on private sector development in Iraq, in Istanbul on 21-23 May 2012. At the workshop that was attended by Iraqi politicians and businesspeople among others, TEPAV Economic Policy Analyst Ozan Acar delivered a presentation on the possible lessons for Iraq from Turkey’s transformation process.
Speaking at the session on economic reform carried out within the Programme, Acar focused on Turkey’s economic transformation during the last three decades with a special emphasis on the development lessons for Turkey’s region as well as on a new cooperation model for the region.
Acar stressed that in the last three decades, Turkey was upgraded from a low-tech to a medium-tech export country and that economic growth brought about significant changes about lifestyles across the country. Accentuating that economic transformation also advanced Turkey’s position within its region; he said that with the deterioration of the European market after the crisis, maintaining good economic relations with the Middle Eastern and North African countries had became a priority for Turkey. He added that Turkey that became a provider county increased technical and financial resources allocated to the region.
A triangular cooperation model proposed
Acar stated, “The grand project of the 20th century was Southeast’s Asia’s integration to the world economy. Twenty-first century’s grand project, on the other hand, will be the integration of Islamic geography to the world economy.” In this context, he emphasized that Turkey could enjoy a large room for cooperation in the region. Chief among these, he mentioned, were designing special economic zones, implementing capacity building programs and entrepreneurship development programs. For a productive and effective cooperation between Turkey and the countries of the region, he proposed a triangular model that involves traditional donors, new themes for cooperation and beneficiary countries in need of technical, operational and financial assistance.
