14.12.2025 15:05
The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the İlim Yayma Foundation, Bilal Erdoğan, stated in the program he attended, "If we had made our President a little stronger, Israel would not have been able to commit this genocide. We have diminished our President's power and energy with the intrigues among us, with the treachery within us, and with the concessions we have given to the traitors among us."
Hosted by the Erzincan Industrialists and Businessmen Association (ERSİAD), a program titled "The Mission of Erzincan Business People in the Century of Turkey" was organized. The program, held at a hotel in Beyoğlu, began with the recitation of the Quran.
Speaking at the event, Bilal Erdoğan stated that the Century of Turkey is essentially the name of the claim that society must position itself in a much more significant place in the world and that Turkey must make its mark in the 21st century. Erdoğan recalled that Turkey had a population of 67-68 million 25 years ago, with a national income of 200 billion dollars, and said, "What has happened at the point we have reached? Turkey, with a population of 86 million, has a national income of 1.5 trillion dollars. A Turkey that has grown more than sevenfold." he said.
"TURKEY WILL RANK 11TH IN THE WORLD BY THE END OF THIS YEAR"
Erdoğan stated that the national income per capita, which was around 3,000 dollars, will reach 18,000 dollars this year, and continued: "When looking at the national income in terms of purchasing power, Turkey will rank 11th in the world by the end of this year. Of course, our President's resolute and determined leadership is what makes all the difference. Today, our President has become the most respected leader in the international system in this way. But we also see that Turkey's effectiveness has increased thanks to that economic power. Consider that in 1999-2000, the economy was 200 billion dollars. Today, exports have exceeded 270 billion dollars. On top of that, there is 120 billion dollars in service exports and 64 billion dollars in tourism income. In other words, we have become a country that can respond to such production from the world."
"FETO MEMBERS CAN DISTURB TURKEY FROM THEIR BETRAYAL CENTERS"
Bilal Erdoğan noted that as economic opportunities increase, the influence of politics in the world also rises, stating, "As a nation, we are not fully embracing this sentiment. Today, still, a few FETO members who have fled to their betrayal centers can stir public opinion in Turkey through social media. They can still spread absurd, false, and slanderous rumors to the Turkish public. It is clear that they are FETO members, it is clear that they are traitors, it is clear that they are despicable. Why are there still people who can trust their news and spread their news?" he expressed.
Erdoğan stated that it is impossible for there to be well-intentioned people among them and continued: "Why do we allow our agenda to be determined by traitors? Why can't Turkey's agenda be 'Together, we will continue this 20-year growth adventure for another 20 years'? Why can't a 1.5 trillion dollar Turkey become a 3 trillion dollar Turkey? Look, we have grown at an average of 5.4% over 23 years. What has happened in these 23 years? If we were to summarize briefly, there were party closure cases, a global financial crisis, the largest global economic crisis of the century occurred, coup attempts, the events of December 17-25, the earthquakes we call the disaster of the century, and the pandemic, think about the wars in our region. While all these were happening, we grew by 5.4% in 23 years. While the whole world grew by 3.3%, you rise from 200 billion to 1.5 trillion. If these had not happened, we would have been 2.5 trillion dollars, not 1.5 trillion."
"WHAT IF NOBODY CRITICIZED OUR PRESIDENT?"
Emphasizing that Turkey will grow even more, Erdoğan noted: "Turkey carries the energy to possibly enter among the top five economies in the world. But we need to broaden our perspective. This sense of unity is very important. What would happen if nobody criticized our President, who represents this country in the world? What do we lack? Shouldn't we stand behind our President? What would happen if we all stood behind our President, who has served this country so much and brought it from here to there, and who is one of the most respected leaders in the world today? What would we lose?
"WE HAVE WEAKENED OUR PRESIDENT'S POWER WITH THE STRIFE AMONG US"
Of course, the value of our President will be understood, but it would have been better if it had been understood sooner. If we had stood stronger behind our President somewhere in the middle of these 23 years, we would be much stronger today. If we had made our President a little stronger, Israel could not have committed this genocide. But we have weakened our President's power and energy with the strife among us, with the treachery among us, and with the concessions we have given to the traitors among us. We have weakened the power and energy of this country abroad. We could have been much stronger. We will be, inshallah. But we need to ensure our unity before it is too late. After that, our horizon, our vision."
Erdoğan, who mentioned that he visits schools, pointed out that there is a desire among young people to get rich quickly, stating, "We should not showcase people who have become rich easily in our country as examples. When we showcase those who have become rich easily, we corrupt society." Erdoğan noted that the fertility rate in Turkey has fallen below 1.5, stating, "Normally, if it were 2.1, you would maintain the average age of the population. Falling below 1.5 means that Turkey is aging rapidly. Ten to fifteen years ago, the number of first-grade students in Turkey was over 1.5 million. Today, can you believe it? It is 930,000. Do you know what this decline means? It means that by 2100, Turkey's population will fall below 50 million. Then, how influential can a Turkey with 50 million people be in a world of 10 billion? How strong can it be? This is not an economic issue," he said.
Erdoğan emphasized that what they call the "Century of Turkey" is not just an economic or international relations issue, but a humanitarian issue, stating, "We have traveled to many places in the world. There is no other social formation that will present a more humane paradigm that values humanity and places it at the center for the future of the world."