Trade Minister Ömer Bolat stated that Turkey's strong future in global competition will be possible with young generations who possess an entrepreneurial spirit, are educated, know foreign languages, develop themselves through experience, and prioritize goodness in their lives. Bolat said, “Turkey's future lies in 3G. 3G means, our future = our youth + our entrepreneurs.”

Minister Bolat spoke at the Turkish Youth Foundation's (TÜGVA) “Young Executive School” program.

Bolat stated that Turkey's future lies in 3G and in being a good person. “3G means, our future = our youth + our entrepreneurs. In my opinion, Turkey's future does not lie in the 3G of telecommunications, but in this 3G. In addition, TÜGVA friends just asked me 'how should a person be?' I said in one word, 'a person should be good...' A good person = a good Muslim, and if you are a good Muslim, you will naturally be a good person. Because you will already fulfill its requirements. Now you are young, in your university years. Managerial periods will begin after high school or university. This is a very long road, friends. In the digital age, this road can also be very short. However, just as a building rises by being built upon bricks, so too is the path of life… A person's life is also a path that progresses like bricks being stacked one upon another. What is important here is to be able to apply the truths of life.” he said.

“What is needed is knowledge and experience”

Trade Minister Bolat pointed out the importance of experience in work and daily life, stating that it is possible for a person to want to do only what they know, but this is an expensive, challenging, and long path. Bolat said, “Let me tell you one more saying. 'If you exist, you exist; if you don't, you don't.' This means, if you can do things and produce something, you exist. If you don't do anything, you are considered non-existent. Another point is, if you want to advance in management or leadership, you must have very good and correct role models. You need to carefully follow what evolutions they have gone through and benefit from their experiences. It is a fact that young people are energetic, dynamic, action-oriented, move fast, and make decisions quickly. These are very good things. But what is also needed alongside these is knowledge and experience. Experience, in essence, is deceptions and the pains endured. If those who came before you, the people you follow and talk to, tell you these things, you must definitely take them into account, friends. Not listening to them and wanting to do what you know is also a path, but it is an expensive, painful, and long path.”

“There is a very good environment for entrepreneurship in our Turkey”

Minister Bolat stated that entrepreneurship offers great opportunities for young people in Turkey.

Emphasizing that the necessary environment for development and production has been created in this field, Bolat said, “There is a very good environment for entrepreneurship in our Turkey. Our country is in a better position than most countries in the world. In the last 23 years, we have always recorded positive growth. We have grown by an average of 5.4 percent annually in real terms. We have overcome many great difficulties, but we have overcome all of them. During this period, countries that can maintain stability, have strong economies, and ensure social peace rise rapidly and shine. Everyone wants to see that place as an address. In this sense, we have succeeded in becoming the world's 16th largest economy by increasing our economic development to 1.6 trillion dollars in 23 years.”

“Socializing will give you skills like coordination and organization”

Bolat stated that young people's socializing and building a strong network will develop their coordination and organizational competencies, and offered the following advice:

“Now young people are studying, they want to get a good education. They want to socialize with their friends. As soon as they finish school, they want to have a job. And they want to have a good job. Our youth, our people, our citizens deserve the best of everything. In this sense, my biggest advice is to work in universities, clubs, and youth clubs. Gain experience. That will give you skills like coordination and organization. It will give you networking ability. You will get to know people. You will have many experiences, both good and bad.”

“An employer who sees they will gain something from you will not want to lose you”

Ömer Bolat stated that everyone in the world, especially countries, is in intense competition, and called on young people to continuously develop themselves. Bolat said, “The world is in a race, Turkey, you, and those around you are all in a race. Strong education, foreign language proficiency, internships, experience, your accomplished work, and your knowledge of the world will be decisive factors. Your interest in digitalization, your knowledge of the digital economy, green economy, and production economy that the world is moving towards will always be valuable. Know this: an employer who sees they will gain something from you will not want to lose you. But if they see they will not gain anything from you, they will look to others.”

Emphasizing that not everyone has to be a manager, Bolat stated that Turkey needs trained human resources in every field in line with its development goals, and said, “In terms of management, in terms of leadership, I want to say this: Entrepreneurship is a God-given ability, a value. Not everyone may have it. Not everyone can be a boss or an entrepreneur. We need teachers, doctors, engineers, software specialists, cryptology specialists, soldiers, police, nurses, tradesmen, academics… every professional group. What is important is for a person to develop themselves and be a good and righteous person.”

“Trust is very important in business life”

In his speech, Minister Bolat emphasized the importance of saving, building up assets, and being prepared for bad days, stating that people should accumulate trust and reputation as much as financial gain. He said, “Being trustworthy is also very important. How can you succeed in being trustworthy? Firstly, if you are truthful, principled, good, harmonious, strong-willed, and if you fully keep your word when you give it, if you do not cause discord, mischief, or strife, and if you are fair and accept your mistakes even in matters against your own interest, then trust in you will increase. Trust is very important in business life.”

“If you want to win the hearts and trust of others, being sweet-tongued is important”

Bolat stated that the ability to establish healthy communication with masses, as well as interpersonal communication, is important for success, and said, “Communication is a very important thing. Of course, it can vary from person to person. Everyone's nature, disposition, and creation are different. That is, not everyone can be the same as if they came out of a mold. But truths are singular. Our beloved Prophet told us, first, smile, second, speak sweetly, be gentle. Now, if you want to win the hearts and trust of others, sweet talk, smiling, being one of the people, empathizing with them, listening to them, sharing their complaints, troubles, and joys are very important in this regard.”

Bolat stated that in the digital age, lies have become more dangerous than nuclear weapons in terms of misleading the masses. “Being able to influence the masses is also very important. Today, social media has transformed into a world of perceptions. We live in an age where fake news receives millions of views, and everyone starts to believe it, believes it. There is a struggle here between truth and falsehood, reality and perception. The digitalization revolution has made life difficult. It both made it easier and made it difficult. It made it easier, it accelerated it. We can access many things quickly. Information, shopping, everything is possible. But fighting against lies has become very difficult. Because lies have become more dangerous than nuclear weapons.”

“Being destructive is not a good thing”

Finally, Trade Minister Bolat underlined that a culture of working in harmony and team spirit is of great importance for achieving common goals, and said, “In your business life, family life, and neighborhood life, you will encounter many people who are not like you. Do not expect to see yourself in them. They are someone else, and you are someone else. Acting with the understanding of 'I don't want to be in the same environment as this person, I'm leaving' only harms oneself. In this race, in this competition, you will be overtaken. Therefore, being ambitious is a very good thing. But being destructive is not a good thing. Exposing others' mistakes, wishing them ill, trying to take their place through bad means is very wrong. Stepping on someone, trampling on them, slandering them, causing discord to succeed – these are bad things. Do not ever approach such things. When you see bad people, stay away. Don't worry, the number of good people, the number of righteous people, is greater.”