Turkish-Armenian businesspeople in Istanbul wish to act as a bridge between the two neighbors, but they are reluctant to enter the market, according to a top entrepreneur. A few businesspeople have entered the construction sector in Armenia, but they choose to act discreetly, Bedros Şirinoğlu says.
Despite the stall in Turkey’s process to normalize relations with neighboring Armenia, businesspeople from both sides of the border are silently seeking pathways to revive trade.
Turkish-Armenian businesspeople in Istanbul are preparing to enter the Armenian market, but they are keeping a low profile as closed borders continue to hamper efforts. Speaking to Hürriyet Daily News & Economic Review, Bedros Şirinoğlu, a leading figure among the 50,000 Turkish Armenians in Istanbul, said he is closely following the rapprochement between the two neighbors. “A few Armenian businessmen in Istanbul entered Armenia’s construction sector,” Şirinoğlu said. “But they choose to act discreetly, afraid that they might have troubles here in Turkey.”
Speaking to the Daily News in a previous interview, Gagig Makaryan, executive director of the Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen (Employers) of Armenia, had said many Turkish businesspeople have already entered the Armenian market, but they were keeping their identities secret. Turkish-made food and cleaning products are sold widely in Yerevan, the Armenian capital, while demand for Turkish textile goods is also strong.
Unless the border opens, the Armenian businesspeople of Istanbul won’t be able to play an active role in Armenia, Şirinoğlu said. “There is unease in our community, stemming from past experiences. I would not enter the Armenian market today. There is no pressure, but I would not want to be perceived as unreliable here. If the border opens, we will be ready to play a bridge role between the two countries.”
The closed border hurts the Armenian economy and Turkey’s eastern cities alike. While Turkey-Armenia trade stalled, Georgia filled in the void, as the port city Batumi dethroned Gyumri, Armenia’s second-biggest city and Turkey’s Kars as a gateway in trade.
The ever haunting past
The Armenian community in Istanbul, Turkey’s most populous city, is only
Levied on the wealthy citizens of Turkey in 1942, the Capital Tax officially aimed to “raise funds for defense” in case the nation entered World War II.
However, the
“The Justice and Development Party [or AKP] government is displaying a tremendous effort to develop bilateral relations,” Şirinoğlu said. “The parties do not have the luxury to miss this opportunity, or we will go back to square one.”
The Armenian businessman also said Turkey should leave the solution to the Nagorno-Karabakh dispute to Armenia and Azerbaijan. “Let them solve their own problems. Otherwise we will not be able to move forward.”
Şirinoğlu also founded Turkey’s first Armenian Museum, within the promises of the Surp Pirgiç Armenian Hospital in Zeytinburnu, Istanbul. The Armenian Hospital was founded in the 18th century, under direct order from Sultan Mahmud II. “We have to teach our societies that we cannot live in the past,” said Şirinoğlu, regarding this endeavor. “The items on display in this museum are reminders of the beauty of the past. We cannot look ahead if we get stuck in pains of the past.”
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