BAKU, Azerbaijan, September 16. The economic pillars of the unity of the Turkic world should be strengthened and the trade volume increased, Deputy Chairman of the Justice and Development Party (AK Parti), Head of Relations with Turkic States, Member of Parliament for Ankara, Kürşad Zorlu, said at the 2nd Conference of the Leading National Analytical Centers of the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) in Baku, Trend's correspondent reports from the event.
He pointed out that the world is facing global crises and chaos.
"Geopolitical risks are rising, and we are confronting a state of instability. In such times, every country must ensure the nationalization of agriculture, prioritize food security, position a dedicated corridor within reliable logistics and global networks, and mobilize domestic resources to make a global impact in the defense industry. These are becoming matters of strategic security for every country," he noted.
Zorlu emphasized that the share of intra-trade among Turkic World countries within their total trade currently stands at slightly over 7%. The rise of this figure—up from around 3% just a few years ago—is a positive outcome.
"However, considering our existing economic potential, we have an obligation to raise this figure above 10% in the short term. Instead of merely setting targets for trading goods among ourselves, we must engage in joint production and financing.
The Middle Corridor, which is taking on an increasingly strategic role in global trade, holds a special place. Today, the Middle Corridor is of immense importance—not only for us but for the world—in terms of mitigating global risks.
This route, which traverses the Caspian, not only offers a safe and rapid transport link between East and West but will also ensure the stronger integration of the Turkic world into the global economy," he added.
The 2nd Conference of the Leading National Analytical Centers of the OTS is being held in Baku.
The conference, dedicated to the theme "Strengthening Economic Cooperation within the Framework of the Organization of Turkic States through Continuous Consultations and Joint Research," is focused on discussions of the prospects for the development of economic cooperation, institutional mechanisms, and opportunities for joint research among the member states of the OTS.
Representatives from various government agencies, think tanks, research institutions, and other organizations of Azerbaijan, Türkiye, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, Kyrgyzstan, Hungary, and the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus are participating in the conference.
