Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Attending the Post-Earthquake Assessment Meeting after their visit to the governor were TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Customs and Commerce Minister Hayati Yazıcı, Deputy Minister Fatih Metin, TESK General Director Bendevi Palandöken and TESKOMB President Abdulkadir Akgül.

TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu stated his hope that Allah would not visit such a disaster upon them again. Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “On the third day after the earthquake we came here together with 78 civil society organizations. We saw both Van and Erciş. All 81 provinces were here in those days. After two concurrent quakes we sent the Governor 4 million TL worth of aid material. As TOBB, we donated 3 million TL to our government’s funds. Our members here provided a total of 25 million TL for aid. Schools and dorms will be built by our chambers as support. There are so many changes since I came here after the quake to this day. Van has thrown of the pall laid on it. We should move on from talking about the earthquake. Now the duty that falls on Van and its residents is promoting Van. You can’t draw in investors by talking about the earthquake.”

- Other speakers

Customs and Commerce Minister Hayati Yazıcı stated that Turkey came together following the quake and said, “People living in the Republic of Turkey showed their unity and prosperity without eschewing all differences.”

Governor Münir Karaoğlu stated that, “Credit was granted by KOSGEB in order to revitalize Van’s economy. To this day, a total of 215 million TL have been transferred in credit to Van and Erciş for aid from the credit provided by KOSGEB. The majority of those who left Van for other provinces have started to return. We expect the rest to return with the end of the school year.

Van Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VATSO) Board President Mirza Nadiroğlu stated that there has been significant economic damage in addition the social damage caused by the quake. Stating that KOSGEB has provided 3,000 companies with credit and urged that more be provided for the companies who are on hold because of the shortage of resources and urged that Kapıköy be opened up to transit.

Craftsmen and Artists Chambers Union (ESOB) President Faruk Alpaslan thanked the President, Prime Minister, Minister and all of the Turkish people for their help.

Speaking after Van Commerce Exchange (VATBO) Board President Feridun Irak, TESK General Director Bendevi Palandöken stated that they would stand by the people of Van, building a service building to house 20 professional organizations in order to help with the recovery of the trade and businessmen.

TESKOMB President Abdulkadir Akgül stated that they have provided 18 million TL in credit since the earthquake and are ready to provide more as needed, that they have donated 2 million for the construction of a school.

AK Party Van Representative Burhan Kayatürk stated that every day since the earthquake ministers have been present in Van to oversee the rebuilding of Van and that they have such plans a “textile city” for Van. Stating that Van has been classified as class 6 zone as part of the last incentives package and that in order to revitalize Van, support from everyone is needed.

After the speeches, the protocols for the construction of schools by TOBB, TESK and TESKOMB were signed. Afterwards Minister Yazıcı and those accompanying him traveled to Erciş via helicopter.

Hisarcıklıoğlu and the visitors with him attended the Erciş Elementary School Groundbreaking Ceremony and visited the Erciş Chamber of Commerce and Industry. After making assessments at the Customs and Commerce Regional Office construction, Hisarcıklıoğlu visited the TESK Yed-I Emin Vehicle Lot.
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