Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

The new service building of the Kırşehir Chamber of Commerce and Industry was opened for business with an opening ceremony. The opening ceremony was attended by the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Kırşehir Mayor Mehmet Ufuk Erden, Kırşehir Municipality Director Yaşar Bahçeci and many guests.

- “We need to be implementing new policies in agriculture and stockbreeding”

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the world’s population and consumption has increased and that agriculture and stock breeding would be very important in the future.

Stating that Turkey is the world’s 9th country in terms of arable land, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We have the chance to feed the world. We must use this well. Starting with inventorying agriculture and stock breeding, we need to implement new policies.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu went on, “Today, Turkey doesn’t know what or how much it is producing. I have a recollection regarding hazelnuts. It was about 3 or 4 years ago, there was a dispute regarding the yield. The Minister of Agriculture requested that I mediate so that the hazelnut harvest could be ascertained. I accepted and the Turkish Grain Board, undersecretary, exchange and chamber presidents convened in Ankara. Discussion started as the Trabzon exchange president was talking about how much rain they had that year, estimating a yield of 700,000 tons. Düzce president complaining about the lack of rain, guessing about a 500,000 ton yield. I thought this was just chatter and asked the undersecretary if there would be any data and how we would go about negotiating. He told me we were already doing it. This is how we negotiate, he said, talking about rainfall.”

TOBB President went on, “Holland is the size of Konya. Its exports reach 52 billion Dollars. Allah has granted us intelligence and the means if you are unable to take advantage of it, there’s nothing left to do. First of all we need to decide what we are going to plant and where, if we don’t we won’t prosper.

This also applies to livestock breeding. Without grass there’s no meat and milk. Kırşehir needs a road map regarding agriculture and livestock breeding.

Another mistake we are prone to is not consolidating our land. Lands that keep getting divided into smaller and smaller pieces become unproductive. England thought of it a hundred years ago. We’ve yet to come to the same realization. We need inventory and consolidation in agriculture.”

Stating the importance of brand names, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We must make Kırşehir into a brand. You need to be a brand in order to prosper.”

- “We must increase the number of our entrepreneurs if we wish to become one of the world top 10 economies”

“If we wish to become rich in the coming term, we must double the amount of potential we are utilizing,” stated Hisarcıklıoğlu and said that women, making up half of the population, are only represented in the work force by a ratio of 6.5%.

TOBB President went on, “In a culture where waste is forbidden, we are wasting half of our population. We must increase the number of our entrepreneurs if we wish to become one of the world top 10 economies.

The person that a Muslim needs to take an example of is the Revered Prophet. The wife of our Prophet, Revered Lady Hatice was the biggest trader of Mecca. Why don’t you take this as an example? Include our young women in you business.

If we wish to reach Japan’s level we require four times as many entrepreneurs as we have now. We must encourage our youth and women to become entrepreneurs.”

- Suggestions to businessmen

TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu suggested that businessmen take advantage of KOBİ Inc., Credit Guarantee Fund and ABİGEM. Stating that the Credit Guarantee Fund provides assurance for entrepreneurs having difficulty having reaching finances, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that KOBİ Inc. provides support to projects that show promise.

Stating that ABİGEMs also provide important services to small companies unable to hire consultants, Hisarcıklıoğlu provided examples of entrepreneurs who found success thanks to ABİGEM.

After the opening ceremony, members who were listed high on tax listings were given plaques.
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