Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

TOBB Board Member Cengiz Günay, noting that the Council, which held 9 meetings in 2021, ensured that the issues were followed up in the public eye in order to raise awareness by raising many important issues, and that it had achieved significant successes in taking positive steps. Günay stressed that the council's agenda includes important issues for the development of the sector and stressed that it will be followed up for the implementation of the decisions to be taken.

Council President Alp Önder Özpamukçu briefed on the developments since the most recent meeting. Özpamukçu stated with precision that although the sector experienced a recovery in the second half of 2021, problems continued with the cost increases experienced by 2022 and regulations were needed.

Addressing the issue of rent within the scope of the Communiqué on Amendments to the Communiqué No. 32 on the Protection of the Value of Turkish Currency 2018-32/51, which has been a problem in front of the sector for a long time, the members stated that some shopping malls and high street store owners have recently issued rent invoices to companies with foreign partnership structure from the Central Bank exchange rate, causing unfair competition and not creating a fair image.

Referring to GEKAP fees and bag prices announced in 2022, members said that the bag fee in question for environmental health remained low, noting that when the application first came out, the use of plastic bags decreased to 25%, while during this period the rate increased to 80%. In addition, the problems of abolishing İŞKUR on-the-job training, including commission fees on food vouchers and the retail sector, were discussed.

Councilors addressed the imbalance in entry-exit VAT fees for products in the retail sector and said that this application, which negatively affects the purchasing power of the consumer, should be regulated.

Addressing exorbitant price and hoarding issues, industry representatives noted the importance of making these definitions clearly and carrying out unfair price controls by authorized Institutions without leaving them to the initiative in order to prevent unfair competition and eliminate negative perception in the sector.

By addressing the planned changes to the Commercial Advertising and Unfair Commercial Practices Regulation and the Price Tag Regulation, it was emphasized that it is important to follow the Retail Law, which has been on the agenda of the sector for a long time by sharing the reservations in the Draft Regulations.

Ministry officials invited to the meeting regarding the agenda items answered the questions from the members and stated that they always support the sector in solving their problems.