'Akdeniz'in Yıldızı Kıbrıs' (Mediterranean Star Cyprus) conference hosted by GAID and organized by Referans Daily and Young Businessmen Association of Turkey (TÜGİK) held on June 26, 2007.

GIAD aims to enable the discussion of the economic issues by the society in a wider-scale, said northern Cyprus GIAD Chairman Sunat Atun.

On his stage, sustainable economic progress is necessary in order to secure the place of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus in global economy. This can be achieved through a healthy dialogue between all parts of the society, said Prime Minister of nothern Cyprus Ferdi Sabit Soyer.

Soyer delivered the opening speech at the 'Akdeniz'in Yıldızı Kıbrıs' (Mediterranean Star Cyprus) conference organized by Referans Daily and Young Businessmen Association of Turkey (TÜGİK) in northern Cyprus on Tuesday.

Rather than waiting for the settlement of political issues, the process should be assessed through securing continuity in economic progress, said Soyer. We need discussion platforms where we will seriously assess economic ideas and leaping points,he said.

Settlement of Cyprus dispute, which deprives northern Cyprus of international relations, is the primary goal, said Soyer. The aids obtained from Turkey should be spent for the reel investment of the country and the development of the productive sectors rather than current expenditures, he added.

GIAD aims to enable the discussion of the economic issues by the society in a wider-scale, said northern Cyprus GIAD Chairman Sunat Atun.

We wanted to be informed of the ideas of Referans Daily, one of the pioneer dailies of Turkish business world, and its expert writers when discussing the latest economic issues we have been facing lately, he said. On the other hand, TÜGİK Chairman Hazım Sesli said that isolations should be removed as soon as possible to initiate direct trade.

Education sector at the heart of economy

Prof. Dr. Hüseyin Gökçekuş, the vice-chancellor of the Near East University (YDÜ), underlined the growth speed of the education sector in northern Cyprus.

The education sector ranks first in contributing to the economy, he said. YDÜ has 15,000 university students and a total of 18,000 students and 3,000 staff. In six universities there are more than 40,000 students. Students from 50 countries come to our schools,he added.

The settlement of Cyprus dispute depends on economic and political stability in Turkey, said Erdal Sağlam, Referans daily representative in Ankara. Northern Cyprus mostly copies Turkey rather than forming its own tax system, said Bumin Doğrusöz, a Referans Daily journalist. Every country should establish a tax system in accordance with its own structure, he added.

The basic solution to the problem does not have to be within a European Union centered perspective, said Oguz Satıcı, Turkish Exporters' Assembly (TIM) chairman. Turkish business world has become resistant to political fluctuations, he added. As TIM we will surpass the goal of $100 billion export.