Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Board Members Mustafa Yardımcı and Harun Karacan, UMAT Inc. Board President and Çankırı Commerce Exchange President Hüsnü Ünal, Ardahan Mayor Mustafa Tekmen, Ardahan Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Latif Tosunoğlu, Ardahan Municipality President Faruk Göksoy and many businessmen attended the Contributors to the Ardahan Economy Meeting.

In his speech Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “The gates of Istanbul start at Ardahan.” Stating that the first reaction to the invasions of the First World War was made in Ardahan, Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized the love of the people of Ardahan for their motherland.

Stating that, in regards to economy, the sun was once again rising from the East, the TOBB President said, “Develop your businesses by forming partnerships. Either produce a lot or buy a lot or sell a lot. Don’t forget that there is prosperity in unity and solidarity.” Stating that everyone will have differing views, however when it comes to the prosperity of the city, everyone unites, Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out that this is how a brand city develops.

- Agriculture and livestock are significant avenues of profit
Emphasizing that agriculture and livestock are the most important avenues of profit in the world; Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that food prices are the fastest increasing goods in the world. “Agriculture and livestock farming are no longer just for subsistence but for profit,” said TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu and drew attention to the fact that the world population increases by an amount equal to that of Turkey each year.

Reporting that Turkey is the 9th largest country in the world in terms of arable land, Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out the Netherlands as an example. Even though the Netherlands is equal in size to Konya, it has 70 billion Dollars’ worth of exports in the fields of agriculture and livestock while the total agricultural and livestock exports of Turkey add up to 12 billion Dollars.

Stating that the core of livestock farming is characterized by feed, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that Ardahan has great potential with such products as honey, geese and kashar cheese.

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu reminded that the EU has a budget of 200 million Euros for agriculture and livestock and called for entrepreneurs to design projects to take advantage of this opportunity.

Expressing the importance of the railroad and airport for Ardahan, Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that the railroad must be extended all the way from Kars to Ardahan.

Listening to the problems and questions of the Ardahan businessmen, Hisarcıklıoğlu expostulated about the removal of the sign from the dorm built by TOBB in Ardahan.

- Ardahan TSO President Tosunoğlu

Ardahan Chamber of Commerce and Industry (TSO) President Latif Tosunoğlu reported that immigration in the cities has, for the majority, stopped and that the construction of a university and housing with the build operate transfer principle has positively impacted morale.

Stating that Ardahan is a livestock farming region, Tosunoğlu reported that they support regional and sector incentives while requesting incentives for the improvement of animal shelters.

- Ardahan schedule

As part of TOBB President Hisarcılkıoğlu’s Ardahan schedule, he visited the Ardahan Mayor Mustafa Tekmen in his offices. Reporting that the final stages of the issues of the Çıldır, Aktaş and Türközü Customs Gates’ modernization and praised Ardahan for its resources.

Touring the Ardahan TSO’s new service building construction, Hisarcıklıoğlu visited the Ardaha TSO President Latif Tosunoğlu in his offices and partook in an exchange of views.
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