Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that despite negative developments in the world has become the 2nd fastest growing country behind China and said, “It is the Turkish private sector, industrialist and entrepreneur that achieved this extraordinary success. The private sector invested 140 billion Dollars last year.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu said that they had received two pieces of good news this week in the TOBB Chambers of Industry, Chambers of Industry and Commerce Council Meetings held at the TOBB ETU.

The first, growth figures for 2011 pointing out that Turkey’s economy has grown by 8.5% in 2011 with the national income reaching 772 billion Dollars and per capita income reaching 10,444 Dollars.

Emphasizing that with its 9% growth, the industrial sector has become the driving force of the economy, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “There is financial crisis to the west. EU economies shrink while EU citizens’ quality of life decreases. On the other hand, countries to the south are struggling with political upheaval and living through the pain of establishing a new political system. Turkey stands at the middle of this ring of fire, moving full speed ahead.”

Despite negative developments in the world has become the 2nd fastest growing country behind China, stated Hisarcıklıoğlu and went on:

“The author of this extraordinary success story is the Turkish private sector, the industrialist and entrepreneur. The private sector has made investments totaling up to 140 billion Dollars in the last year, 100 billion of it invested in machinery and equipment. In just 1 year our private sector has provided registered employment to 1.1 million people and exported 135 billion dollars. I would like to present my gratitude to our private sector, industrialists and all companies.”

- The new incentives system

The second piece of good news, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated, is the new incentives system; the most comprehensive incentives program formed to date.

Stating that he puts special importance on 5 articles in the new incentives system, Hisarcıklıoğlu listed these as:

“It is very important that incentive zones are split into 6. This way, inequalities between provinces is minimized. Economic management is also achieving a first in this instance by opening the way for provinces to move between zones as suits the need arises. It is a very significant step that in the new incentives system, big incentives are provided to strategic sectors with no regard to where the investment is being made. This will support the transition to high-tech industry and the decrease of foreign deficit as well as not neglecting our more traditional sectors. As the problem of unemployment increases worldwide, we wholly support this incentive to our employment intensive sectors.

As a new factor, the interest incentives being comprehensive are one of the most important things to increase the private sector’s investments. One of the biggest problems faced by companies in our country is the cost of finances. Additional incentives for investments made to Organized Industry Zones (OIZs) is a visionary move. OIZs are seeds planted for the industrial field.  Lastly the fact that additional comprehensive incentives for companies which invest by forming partnerships is a revolutionary shift in mentality. Our government has opened an important door in this regard. The private sector needs to do its part and abandon the ‘keep it small, keep it yours’ mindset.”

Stating that the new incentives system may face some problems, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that figuring out the best way to profit from the current system instead of criticizing is needed and that TOBB is ready to render any and all assistance needed.

- We wholeheartedly believe in the 2023 goals

Drawing attention to the fact that while all countries are struggling with their own problems, Turkey has turned its gaze to 2023, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that they believe in the 2023 goals wholeheartedly.

In this regard, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the new Turkish Trade Law must have all of its problematic parts revised rapidly and enter into effect, and said, “In order to meet the increasing need for intermediate technical personnel, the Profession Education System needs to be quickly changed. Our chambers of industry and chambers of commerce and industry should be rapidly integrated into this professional education system. Our chambers should be a part of the system by establishing professional schools and finding out the professional needs of the province. The Retail Law, giving direction to commercial life and branding in industry should be quickly implemented. I believe that these reforms, quickly completed, will render Turkey and the Turkish private sector unstoppable.” TOBB Chambers of Industry Council President Nurettin Özdebir and the TOBB Chambers of Commerce and Industry Council President Hacı Osman Yıldırım stated that the new incentives system will make significant contributions to the business world.

The Council Presidents voiced their opinions regarding the changes they deem fit to make on the new Turkish Trade Law.

- Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan

In his speech, Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan said, “We will be working on incentives in regards to employment as part of a separate project.

Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan stated that the events in Europe should provide a lesson for Turkey and said, “We must not be careful to fall into the same position as Europe while making our own adjustments.”

Babacan stated that TOBB is the most important umbrella organization of the business world at the meeting held at TOBB ETU. Stating that TOBB does not earn its umbrella organization classification solely from its definition or activities but because it is active in all fields, its support for the policies of the government and the criticism and support it provides.

Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan said, “The environment of stability and trust we have achieved in Turkey by is incentive in and of itself for investment in Turkey.”

Deputy Prime Minister Ali Babacan also spoke on the subjects of foreign investors’ interest in Turkey; the opportunities afforded the OIZs by the new incentives system; added value generated by investments; the need for the implementation of the new Turkish Trade Law (TTK).

Addressing the criticism regarding the publication of company information online in the new TTK, Babacan said, “My grandfather had some advice for me. ‘Son,’ he said, ‘Trade is secrets’. If we do not preserve the concept of trade secrets in Turkey, banking secrets, government secrets, the government of this country may turn to chaos.”
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