Chairman of the Board of Directors of Onur Air Cankut BAGANA:
"If Turkey Defines and Sets the Goals That Will Make A Difference in the World, It Will Benefit From This Crisis!" *
Mr. Bagana graduated from the Faculty of Law, Istanbul University. He started his career as tour leader in 1965 and worked as manager in different working areas of the tourism industry until 1975. He established Incoming Travel Agency in 1975 and joined Ten Tour as one of the founders and shareholders in 1980. In 1985, he started to work personally in Ten Tour. He served as Onur Air joined with Ten Tour in 1994. He is President of Onur Air since 2013. He speaks French, German, English and Italian.
* Translated by Salih Ertan
We think that if Turkey defines and sets the goals that will make a difference in the world, it will benefit from this crisis. We shall produce. The sectors selected and assigned highest priority should not change for the next 20-30 years. We will be the best in the world. We will sell and buy products. Our efforts will be backed up by our logistics power, coupled with transit trade opportunities. In short, we will both produce and trade with the whole world. Those nations who study their lesson well and set clear and fixed goals for themselves can easily transit to tomorrow's world without the need to demolish today's world. However, this is only true as long as they carry on the goals that make a difference in the world, with strict and persistent discipline.
Cankut Bagana (Chairman of the Board of Directors of Onur Air), answers the questions of Adnan Akfırat, Chairman of the Board of BRIQ.
Adnan Akfırat: In its assessment of April 8, Adnan Akfırat: What differences and sim-
2020 the World Trade Organization announced ilarities will there be between the developed and
that international trade will decrease by be- developing countries regarding the pandemic’s
tween 13% and 32% in 2020 due to the pandem- effects on the economy?
ic. Because of pandemic, it is believed that the Cankut Bagana: Of course, the developing
recession in global trade is worse than that of the countries will be more prone to innovations
2008 financial crisis.What changes do you fore- such as artificial intelligence, robotic manufac-
see in the global economy after the COVID-19 turing, and quantum computer technologies for
outbreak? the next 10- 20 years. However, their transition
from today to tomorrow will be problematic and Cankut Bagana: The COVID-19 outbreak painful. They need to pull down today's world speeded up the process leading to the end of the and build tomorrow. For example, the manneoliberal economy. All the world states make an ufacturing of electric cars in Turkey is easier
effort to find a solution, first on a national scale. compared to Germany. The biggest problem of
Then solutions on a regional and ultimately global developing countries is this painful transition
basis will be sought by them. These efforts will de- and transformation problem. Those nations who
termine the post-pandemic economic structures. study their lesson well and set clear and fixed
goals for themselves can easily transit to tomorrow's world without the need to demolish to-
The biggest problem of developing day's world. However, this is only true as long as
countries is this painful transition they carry on the goals that make a difference in
and transformation problem. the world, with strict and persistent discipline.
Turkey Should Set Targets years. We will be the best in the world. We will
As Soon As Possible produce sell and buy products. Our efforts will
be backed up by our logistics power, coupled Adnan Akfırat: What are the effects of the
pandemic, either positive or negative, on Tur- with transit trade opportunities. In short, we will
key's foreign trade, and furthermore what will both produce and trade with the whole world.
be the likely effects in the future? Adnan Akfırat: As far as the Turkish econ-
Cankut Bagana: Today's economic situation omy and financial markets are concerned on a
of Turkey is, so to say, the point where the sea global scale, what changes may take place after ends. Targets should be set as soon as possible. the pandemic? We think that if Turkey defines and sets the the
goals that will make a difference in the World, it Cankut Bagana: After the outbreak in Tur-
will benefit from this crisis. In our opinion the key and elsewhere, abrupt changes in the financial
Goals should be the following: markets are likely to occur. The decisive step will be
1- Agriculture and agricultural industries, an agreement to be reached by big players, either
2- Logistics and related industries (we voluntarily or as a compulsory action. Only after
need to produce items such as wagons, that stage, it will be possible to get an idea about the
trucks, airplanes, vessels, etc. necessary nature of changes that will take place in the world
for transportation), and in Turkey.
3- Tourism and associated industries,
4- Manufacturing of equipment to fulfill I think that the geographical
our role as an energy corridor for gas and oil. location of Turkey is of a unique
5- 5- Digital Technology value and the greatest advantage.
Therefore, Turkey's unique location
Adnan Akfırat: What are the possible requires us to prioritize the
comparative scenarios regarding Turkey’s for- production and the trade with the
eign trade with Asia, Europe, the US, and Latin whole world primarily in the sectors
America? favorable for Turkey, mainly with Eastern Europe, the Balkans,
Cankut Bagana: I think that the geographi- Caucasia, the Middle East, Central
cal location of Turkey is of a unique value and the Asia, and North Africa.
greatest advantage. Therefore, Turkey's unique lo- Adnan Akfırat: What are your prepara-
cation requires us to prioritize the production and tions in your companies for the period after the
the trade with the whole world primarily in the pandemic?
sectors favorable for Turkey, mainly with Eastern Cankut Bagana: Aviation and tourism took
Europe, the Balkans, Caucasia, the Middle East, the biggest blow because of the pandemic. I be-
Central Asia, and North Africa. We shall produce. lieve that these sectors will need to take shape
from the very beginning. We set new goals (with-
Selected Sectors Should Not Change out putting all the eggs in the same basket) for
For the Next 20-30 Years ourselves and draw a roadmap accordingly. The
The sectors selected and assigned highest wind is useless for a captain who does not know
priority should not change for the next 20-30 where to go!