Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

 

 

 

Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We must design a future for agricultural markets rooted well in history. Everyone should recognize that trade exchanges are the best mechanism to protect the interest of the farmer and the industrialist.”

 

The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) Trade Exchanges Council Meeting was held in Ankara at the TOBB Union Center, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu presiding with the attendance of the Customs and Commerce Minister Hayati Yazıcı, Food, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Mehdi Eker, TOBB Trade Exchanges Council President Nejat Ekrem Basmacı and the council members.

 

Starting his speech by commemorating the soldiers martyred in Afghanistan. Regarding the meeting’s agenda, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We will assess the problems we face in the trading of agricultural goods. We will share with our ministers the progress made in licensed storage and product specialized exchanges, which have been revolutionary in regards to the trade of specialized agricultural goods.

 

- Private sector based success

 

Stating that Turkey’s economy has achieved many significant successes through the private sector, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “In the first 9 months of 2011 we achieved a record with 9.6% growth. The fourth quarter data is also very promising. As the private sector we increased employment while enlarging the economy. Employment increased by 1,413,000 in 2011. Unemployment figures, excluding seasonal changes, have decreased to 9.3%. Our industrial continues to increase. The industrial production index increased by 8.9% in 2011. As exports increased, imports indexes have decreased. In light of this information, Turkey will end 2011 with over 8% growth. All of our efforts are focused on maintaining the rate of growth in 2012 and exceeding our goals. We are strong enough to achieve this in the face of the instability in the global economy.”

 

Stating that one of the markets hit hardest by the global instability is commodities, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “In the last 3 years, the price of food products has increased by 35% based on the Dollar, the price of raw agricultural goods by 49%. This trend viewed in the agricultural goods markets is much more advanced than the instabilities caused by the latest crisis.”

 

- The address is the TOBB community

 

M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that with China and India joining the global economy in the 20th century, a rapid change in production and consumption patterns has occurred and went on, “The raw material demands of these economies increased as they grew. As a relative prosperity was observed, a new middle class was born. In developing Asian countries the middle class has tripled in size in 18 years between 1990 and 2008. We are talking about 2 billion people who purchase groceries, cleaning products and car fuel. This tells us that agriculture and livestock will be the shining star in the coming years.

 

It is just on such a time that licensed storage and product specialized exchange, which are revolutionary in regards to agricultural markets, are on our agenda. It is important that product markets in Turkey function effectively. Adapting the knowledge and know-how from commerce exchanges to present day will aid in a jump forward for the agricultural markets. We must design a future for agricultural markets rooted well in history and the right address for that is the TOBB community.”

 

- Product specialized exchanges should be organized with the experience of this community

 

Stating that trade exchanges, with over a century of history behind them, have taken on an important role in the development of agricultural production, Hisarcıklıoğlu noted that LİDAŞ, the first licensed storage company in Turkey, has been established by trade exchanges and TMO under TOBB’s leadership. The TOBB President stated that the product specialized exchanges should be organized with the experience of this community. Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Putting all this experience aside and starting over will hurt the Turkish farmer and trader. Those denying the past are bound to lose. Everyone should recognize that trade exchanges are the best mechanism to protect the interest of the farmer and the industrialist.”

 

- Customs and Commerce Minister Hayati Yazıcı

 

Customs and Commerce Minister Hayati Yazıcı stated that with the duties taken on by the trade exchanges, they form one of the indispensable factors of the market economy.

 

Yazıcı stated that the most important advantage afforded to traders by trade exchanges is providing the opportunity to bargain and acquire goods in a free market setting.

 

- There are 113 trade exchanges active in Turkey

 

Stating that trade exchanges are actively working with producers, traders, exporters, industrialists and consumers, Yazıcı said that there are 113 trade exchanges active in Turkey.

 

The number of members of these trade exchanges is a total of 50,481; 37,853 active and 12,628 on hold.

 

- Specialized exchanges

 

Yazıcı stated that with the establishment of the specialized exchanges it is possible to raise the quality of products and achieve standardization, saying, “As the number of product test labs increase, subjective savings on products, monopolization and speculative activities will cease and an environment of free competition will manifest through standardization.”

 

- 6 more applications for licensed storage

 

Yazıcı stated that, outside of Polatlı, there are now 6 more applications for licensed storage which have been granted preliminary permission and that the investigative progress is under way. Stating that these applications have been made in Adana, Ankara, İzmir, Mersin, Gaziantep and Bursa, Yazıcı said that the total storage capacity of these companies is 437,500 tons.

 

- Food, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Mehdi Eker

 

Food, Agriculture and Livestock Minister Mehdi Eker stated that agricultural production, livestock production and livestock movements in Turkey are tightly related in trade exchanges and that the meetings conducted are very important for the sector.

 

Stating that they view trade exchanges as the capillaries of the agriculture market, Eker said, “The healthier these work and the more functional and active they are, the production and the trade of products as well as their contribution to the country’s economy in general will increase.”

 

- Licensed livestock markets and exchanges

 

Pointing out that “livestock markets and exchanges” are another point regarding exchanges which must be implemented as soon as possible, Eker noted that the number of provinces which already boast livestock markets and exchanges is 43 and that there are 94 licensed livestock markets in these provinces.

 

After their speeches, President of the Afyon Commerce Exchange, Mehmet Mühsürler presented Ministers Eker and Yazıcı and the President of TOBB, M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu with a painting.

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