Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, along with Mehmet Özhaseki, Minister of Environment and Urbanism, participated in the foundation laying ceremony of the great project to rebuild the historical city of Sur in Diyarbakir.​

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Mehmet Özhaseki, Minister of Environment and Urbanism, visited Diyarbakır Bağlar TOBB Ferdi Yiğit Anatolian Imam Hatip High School. Hisarcıklıoğlu and Minister Özhaseki, who spoke with students and listened to their requests, presented students with books. After the visit a commemorative photo was taken with the students.​

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu met with the Board of Directors of the Commodity Exchange, Members of the Council and Diyarbakır Provincial Women Entrepreneurs on the Diyarbakır Commodity Exchange and listened to the demands and expectations of the business community. Hisarcıklıoğlu engaged with citizens in the city center together with the chairpersons of the chamber / commodity exchanges; boosting the morale of the citizens who chatted with him. Hisarcıklıoğlu explained that if there is unity and solidarity, all problems can be overcome and the economy will gain strength.​

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu visited the Chamber of Commerce and Industry as a part of his Diyarbakır itinerary. Hisarcıklıoğlu was hosted by Chairman Ahmet Sayar and the Board of Directors and members of the Council, exchanged views on the economy with Chairman Sayar. Diyarbakır Commodity Exchange Chair Engin Yeşil, Deputy Ebubekir Bal and former Minister Kudbettin Arzu and Nevşehir Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Arif Parmaksız were also among the participants.​

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu issued a statement regarding the bloody attack in İstanbul on New Year’s Eve, “Whatever the source, terror is the enemy of mankind. It is the enemy of brotherhood, life and bright dreams. These bullets, fired at the unity of our country, the hearts of innocent people, will be remembered as a crime against humanity in the blackest pages of history. "​

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu expressed his wish that 2017 bring peace and blessings. Stating that our country and the region in which it is located has passed through difficult days, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “May peace reign in 2017. May there be peace all over the world. May we leave a better world for the children of our sainted martyrs who sacrificed their lives. All our efforts and work are for this. In regards to the economy, we hope to have better days with reforms. We are hopeful for the future as the business world.”​

TOBB Economy and Technology University (TOBB ETU) awarded an honorary doctorate to Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi. Speaking at the ceremony, TOBB ETU Board of Trustees Chair M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that Turkey is the highest investing country into Kosovo behind Germany and Switzerland with a volume of 341 million Euros.​

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Kosovo President Hashim Thaçi and Customs and Trade Minister Bülent Tüfenkci attended the last council meeting of the Ankara Chamber of Commerce (ATO) in 2016. In his address the guest President Thaçi said, “July 15th is a black day. I said it then and I say it now: No tank can crush the power of this nation. Whoever Turkey considers terrorists, so do we.”​

TOBB will lead an business expedition to Qatar along with businessmen. TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out that Qatar is the country with the highest per capita national income, stating that they want to increase trade relations with the Gulf Region.​

Minister of Labor and Social Security Mehmet Müezzinoğlu and members of the Turkey-EU Joint Consultation Committee (JCC) came together at the TZOB Hotel hosted by Şemsi Bayraktar, Chairman of Union of Agricultural Chambers of Turkey (TZOB). Attending the meeting in addition to Minister Müezzinoğlu were members of the Turkey-EU JCC TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Hak-İş General Director Mahmut Arslan, Memur-Sen General Director Ali Yalçın, TİSK Chairman Kudret Önen, Turkey Kamu-Sen Chairman İsmail Koncuk and Ergün Atalay, Türk-İş General Director.​