Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Bursa will be playing the same role it did for the transition of the Ottomans in an empire for Turkey to enter the top 10 economies of the world.”

The Value Contributors to the Economy Award Ceremony was held in the Conference Hall of the Bursa Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TSO) with the attendances of TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç, TOBB Board of Directors Accounting Member and Bursa TSO Council President İlhan Parseker and Bursa TSO President Celal Sönmez and various guests.

Speaking at the opening of the ceremony TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Whoever needs morale should come to Bursa. They should see the industry and production. Bursa is one of the most important cities indicative of Turkey’s development and prosperity.”

- The importance of unity and solidarity

Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Prosperity and plenty in unity, pain in dissent. Look at the successful provinces of Turkey; you will see the same formula in all of them.”

Stating that the Bursa TSO has achieved many a success, TOBB President thanked İlhan Parseker and Celal Sönmez. Hisarcıklıoğlu also stated his gratitude for the contributions of Deputy Prime Minister Arınç in opening the doors of the Grand Assembly to the private sector, Mayor Şahabetting Harput and Municipality President Recep Altepe for their support.

- “You are as rich as the amount of entrepreneurs you have”

Emphasizing the importance of entrepreneurship in his speech, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “A country is as rich as the number of entrepreneurs it has. The salvation of one person is the salvation of the world. If you can provide food and a job for a person, bless you. Every year, we need to find jobs for 750,000 people. This is why we must increase the number of our entrepreneurs.” Hisarcıklıoğlu went on to point out how few the numbers of the women entrepreneurs were.

- Call for the UMEM Project

Touching on the UMEM (Specialized Occupational Training Centers) Ability’10 Project during his speech, Hisarcıklıoğlu urged especially the press to take special note of it and make sure it is heard. Stating that with the Ability’10 Project, the unemployed are receiving occupational training with 15 TL spending money every day; at the end of the training employment is provided to those who take part in the project.

- Success story of the private sector

TOBB President, making an assessment of the growth figures and basic economic data of Turkey, stated that the Turkish private sector has written a significant success story. Hisarcıklıoğlu said that in 30 years, 3 billion dollars’ worth of exports have reached 135 billion dollars’ worth.

- Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç

Speaking at the Awards Ceremony, Deputy Prime Minister Bülent Arınç, praising the TOBB President’s speech, said, “President Hisarcıklıoğlu has explained many important developments as if he were teaching a lesson. I felt very excited.”
Arınç, giving examples from previous economic crises, stated that economic stability can only be achieved through political stability. Bülent Arınç stated that he believed Turkey will reach its economic goals.
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