EASY TO SAY; 70 YEARS

I was always interested in the overall economy as someone having taken place in the 59 years of the 69 years of Ulusoy's trading life. Looking at Turkey in the light of many experiences, sadly, I have to admit that our country is becoming poorer. It is true that there is a narrowing in the world trade. However, it must also be mentioned that Turkey hit the bottom economically. Turkey went into this road after 1987. In those years, those governing the country made many mistakes. The country was not managed well. However, we also have to admit that our people didn't live like the people of a poor country, on the contrary lived in luxury and waste much like the people of a rich country. Without admitting this reality, we cannot correct our mistakes. There are many of our people living without a family budget, not aware of the amount of money in their pockets. I visited 57 countries and even in the richest ones I didn't come across such an imprudent life style. Our state, sadly, acts the same way.

When there is need for money, debt seems to be the easiest and unfortunately the first solution. We know that internal debt is the greatest problem of our state. However, we see an erosion of trust in the people and thus no one considers even the treasury bonds, with sympathy. The government, in order to cover the internal debt, enforces new taxes continuously and also scares foreign capital investments that have been tried to be increased since the 1950's as well as causing native traders to flee abroad. Today, the Turkish capital goes to countries like Bulgaria, Hungary, Poland and Russia.These countries where wages are about 40-50 dollars, when tax flexibilities are taken into consideration, become more attractive for investors.

In these circumstances, Turkey must go through a restructuring. Firstly the election law and then many other practices in the education and health care systems must change. Meanwhile, foreign trade must be under control. 51 billion dollars import against 26 billion dollars export in the year 2000, drags us to a debt swamp. To establish social justice and peace, it must be provided that the heavy load of new taxes are not carried by those waiting in the queue at 5 o'clock in the morning to get cheaper bread. If these taxes is absolutely necessary, then they have to be collected from the wealthy citizens. Otherwise the results of these practices may be catastrophic.

Still, let's not lose hope. Turkey is a country with a high potential. If we manage to be sensitive in the subjects I already mentioned and if we are patient, we can overcome all of the problems in at most two years. Thus, everyone -especially the politicians and businessmen- must perform their own duty completely. As someone acting with this idea in mind, I can easily say that I feel at ease.

Just as in the 21 years I spent as the President of International Transporters Association (UN), the time when I spent the greatest efforts of my life, UN RO-RO Management, where I still work as the president and the largest shareholder, does not only bring solutions to sector problems but also opens the way to export; one of the most important subjects of our country. Besides UN RO-RO Management, an establishment that invests when bringing in foreign exchange, supplying employment, producing added value and paying great amounts of tax to its state, the employment supplied, the investments made, the taxes paid by the companies that either belong to me, managed by me or that I am a shareholder at, are the greatest source of happiness for me as a businessman whose life has passed in strife and who feels responsible to his country, nation and state.

I was honored the "Commendatore" medal, the top honor prize of Italy, because of my work in the field of Ro-Ro between Turkey and Italy. This prize was presented to me by the President of Italy in May 1997, in Trieste.