We Can Turn Dual Transformation Into an Opportunity With Innovation.
We have entered the final stretch of a challenging year. November was a busy and successful month both for our Parliament and our export performance.
Compared to the same month of the previous year, we achieved a 5.2% increase in exports in November, reaching $23 billion, and we came a little closer to our year-end target.
I believe that we will achieve our export target of $255 billion for goods and $100 billion for services in 2023.
Our Parliament and exporters' associations had a busy program last month. First, we held the "TİM Delegates Meeting". Then, with the participation of our President, we organized the 10th "Türkiye Innovation Week", which was met with great enthusiasm by young people. Once again, we observed that the culture of innovation is embraced both by our companies and our youth.
We are aware that the only way to reach our country's economy and export goals is through innovation. As exporters, we will continue to provide all the support we can for the growth of this ecosystem.
After our Innovation Week, we held the "TİM Expanded Board of Directors Meeting". We had the opportunity to discuss many issues related to our exports with the valuable ministers. Being able to consult with relevant ministers and bureaucrats one-on-one was crucial. To achieve our Medium-Term Development goals, we need collective cooperation. In this context, we must collaborate with universities, industrialists, bankers, and bureaucrats. Because our goal as a country is a common one.
The world is undergoing a dual transformation. The changes initiated by digital and green transformation will continue to accelerate. This year, under the presidency of the United Arab Emirates, the Global Accelerator for Carbon Neutrality Initiative was announced as part of COP28. 118 countries committed to tripling global renewable energy capacity by 2030 and doubling the rate of progress in energy efficiency. The United States, the world's third-largest coal-producing country, has also committed to decarbonize its electricity sector by 2035. The fact that the largest importer in the world is rapidly moving away from fossil fuels will undoubtedly affect countries exporting to the U.S. Those countries that see this transformation as an opportunity rather than a threat will undoubtedly be the winners in this major transformation.
We need to think innovatively from education to production. A detailed study was carried out with the "Innovation and Export Report" prepared by our "TİM Economic Research" department. We have identified the points where our institutions and companies are lacking in innovation, compared them with other countries. We can see why the top 1000 exporters are in the top 1000 by looking at their R&D expenditures. Therefore, our priority in our innovation-focused export strategy will be to make innovation a corporate culture for companies of all sizes.
It appears that in our evolving world, there will be a greater need for entrepreneurs and ideas that "break new ground in the traditional setting”.