Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

In Malatya for the “The New Turkish Trade Law Introduction and Information Meeting” held by TOBB, Customs and Commerce Ministry and TÜRMOB, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu visited the Malatya Commodity Exchange, Commerce and Industry Chamber and conducted the opening of the KGF Malatya Branch at the Malatya TSO.

Thanking the Malatya Commodity Exchange, TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, touching on the events taking place in Syria said, “We are a people who say that we won’t sleep while our neighbors go hungry. It is essential for us that our neighbors prosper. Democracy and prosperity are inseparable parts of a whole. Allah willing, our brothers will achieve peace before long. Syria is very important for Antakya, Hatay, İskenderun, Osmaniye and Gaziantep. Another important fact about Syria is that it is a point of transit for the Middle East. I hope that the good sense of its people will, before long, solve this problem without the intervention of other countries.”

Malatya Commodity Exchange President Mehmet Tahir Kalaycıoğlu expressed his happiness regarding the visit and said, “We are here to listen to the troubles of the merchants and traders. I hope that the meeting will be prosperous for our country and Malatya.”

- KGF Malatya Branch opening

Visiting the Malatya Chamber of Commerce and Industry afterwards, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu attended the opening of the Credit Guarantee Fund Malatya Branch. Speaking at the opening, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We have conducted the opening of the KGF today. Previously we had done the same for the European Union Business Development Center (ABİGEM). We address whatever needs Malatya has.”

Stating that KGF has been founded to help with the difficulties SMBs have attaining credit, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “There was a general problem attaining credit. The Credit Guarantee Fund will solve this. Establishments will be able to draw credit without hassle. 37 banks and finance establishments will be granting credit.”

- TÜRMOB President Sanlı

Turkey Accountants’ and Financial Consultants’ Chambers Union (TÜRMOB) General Director Nail Sanlı said, “We take part in this establishment as an organizer. We know that there are serious problems. There are revolutionary changes coming up with the changes to the Turkish Trade Law (TTK). The TTK should enter into effect on July 1st, 2012 with the necessary revisions being made to the clauses which cause the business community certain reservations.”

- Malatya TSO President Erkoç

In his speech, Malatya TSO President Hasan Hüseyin Erkoç also voiced his reservations regarding certain clauses of the new TTK and requested that these be addressed before the law goes into effect.

- Green passport revolt

After the opening ceremony, TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu attended the Malatya province chambers and exchanges councils’ joint meeting.

Touching on the matter of Mount Nemrut, Hisarcıklıoğlu jokingly said, “Let’s just carry Nemrut to Ankara, that should calm everyone down,” and went on, “The matter of Nemrut is a matter for the 74 million, for 81 provinces. Those who will benefit from this will the provinces in this region. Adıyaman, Malatya, Elazığ, Tunceli. Nemrut is all of ours. If we all have a stake in it then we must jointly produce projects.”

Commenting about giving businessmen green passports, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “I would have a green passport only if I had married a teacher. Entrepreneurs, make sure you marry your children to public servants. I’m not against green passports for teachers. How much more often than businessmen do teachers go abroad?

When they do go abroad, businessmen do so to sell their goods. Our work must be facilitated first. But this oligarchic bureaucracy still lives on. The reason that it is still around is because these public servants were afraid something would happen to their passports if we got green passports. Two bills were proposed but they were both retracted. We are still working towards this goal.”
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