WBJ: Tell us more about TURKPOL.

Mehmet Göktürk İplikçioğlu: TURKPOL is an association that believes joint projects finished by foreigners, businesspeople or academics can only be successful with participants from all parts of society. Our organization, which we started in 2009 with members from all parts of society where everyone has the right to equal representation has been continuing its activities with hundreds of members and key business partners officially since 2016. The group focuses on the business sector with its Business Club branch. It aims to establish new partnerships by bringing businesspeople from Poland and Turkey together with the events it organizes throughout the year. Of course, it also supports the growth of the trade volume between the two countries. We are excited that this community will guide young people, academics and businesspeople and contribute to the development of their social lives.

How do you evaluate the relations between Turkey and Poland in terms of trade capacity? How do you think this volume will be affected in the future?

While the trade volume between Poland and Turkey was €6 billion in 2019, today this rate has increased despite the pandemic. In Turkey, the trade ministry continues its efforts to encourage Polish investors to invest in our country. The trading capacity between the two countries is increasing every year. While Turkey is an export market for Poland, it is also one of Poland's best suppliers. There are active commercial activities, especially in the automotive and textile sectors. When we look at the foreign trade volume of Poland with Turkey in 2021, we can see an increase of 27% from the previous year. The trade volume in 2021 was $9.3 billion between the two countries. If we look at the current year, $3.5 billion had already been reached in the first four months.

If we talk about the education sector, Turkish students who want to study in Europe prefer Poland over other countries. University graduates prefer professions that will allow them to reside in Poland in the long term, especially in senior managerial positions.

How did the war in Ukraine affect the trade relations between Poland and Turkey?

War affects the whole world on a global scale. As part of civil society, we have accelerated our efforts to do our bit. We endlessly support the mutual solidarity network. Crises can create new bonds and heroes. Turkey plays a strategic role in the Ukraine crisis with both its defense industry and diplomatic missions.

How has the Covid-19 pandemic affected your work? Were you able to maintain your active position?

Although the pandemic made it necessary to take a break from fieldwork for a while, it revealed the technological ways of coming together. We tried to reach more people by turning the process of staying at home caused by the pandemic into an advantage.

What are the main problems experienced by Turkish entrepreneurs in Poland? How can Turks enter the Polish market?

Turkish companies are actually quite familiar with the Polish market. In 2019, 39 different projects worth $3.4 billion were undertaken by Turkish companies in Poland. This reveals the volume of bilateral trade relations. In 2021, the total Turkish investment amounted to $450 million.

Turkish entrepreneurs who want to invest in Poland can establish a limited company. This process takes up to 60 days. Investors will then need work and residence permits. However, it can be said that a period of about six months is needed. Investors will be able to take more solid steps if they enter the market with this information, and of course, follow the latest news.

While the trade volume between Poland and Turkey was €6 billion in 2019, today this rate has increased despite the pandemic

I suggest investors should head towards the right sectors and identify the gaps and needs in Poland correctly. For example, Turkey is one of the most important commercial partners of Poland in the textile sector. Poland is among the top five importing countries. It will be more advantageous to be able to identify such high-capacity sectors or to see the gaps with commercial activity potential.

What are the differences that draw your attention as a Turk in the Polish business sector?

The decision processes take longer here. It is certain that foreign investment will increase if processes such as the waiting period for obtaining a work permit are shortened. The visa application and finalization process is time-consuming and shortening it will have a very positive effect on the parties. The absence of any business visa application in Poland also has an effect. In addition, in the business area, partners prefer face-to-face communication more. Also, in Poland, a lot of attention is paid to working hours and public holidays. Apart from that, the use of English is not very common, I think it should be increased in addition to Polish in business life. Finally, I think that the transition to digital systems in Poland could be a little faster. There is a digital platform known as the "e-devlet" [in English: e-Government] in Turkey, and in this way, citizens can easily follow up on government services on the internet. This accelerates foreign investment transactions and we can follow them more easily. The lack of this in Poland causes companies here to hire third-party companies even for simple paperwork.

There are many Poles in Turkey, in which sectors is this most felt?

The interest of Polish companies in Turkish markets, especially in textile, ready-made clothing, machinery and other industrial sectors has increased considerably recently. Companies can partially carry out their production in Turkey. Although this scale is gradually increasing, it is now more common for investors to introduce their brands to the Turkish market.

How big is the bilateral relations connected to tourism?

Polish citizens prefer Turkey in the summer season. In the last five years, 2.5 million Polish tourists have visited Turkey. The majority prefer the Turkish resort city of Antalya. I think the most important factor facilitating this situation is that Polish citizens can enter Turkey with their identity cards. In the first seven months of 2022, overall, 392,135 Polish tourists came to Antalya. Successful implementation of the Safe Tourism Certification Program initiated by Turkey in 2020 and bilateral diplomatic relations have also boosted tourism.