Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Speaking at the ceremony, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, having attended the foundation for the Hüseyin Çelik Anatolia Religious Vocational High School which will take on 320 students to be built by TOBB in Hakkari, stated that it was not their first investment into Hakkari; preceded by a rug workshop and the ongoing modernization of the Esendere Customs Gate.

Reporting that the Esendere Customs Gate modernization will be completed by the end of the year, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that it is possible to modernize the Üzümlü and Derecik gates as well.

Thanking the former President Ahmet Şen and President Servet Taş for their contributions to the construction of the new service building of the Hakkari TSO, Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasizing that people in these kinds of public offices do not work for monetary benefits.

Hisarcıklıoğlu, stating that chamber and exchange president are the opinion leaders of their regions, said, “They work with the principle that the most beneficent of men is he who is beneficent to men. I’m sure that they will be rewarded for it in the afterlife.

Prosperity in unity; anguish in dissent. When we work together there is prosperity. That is the way to achieve riches. There will only be anguish if everyone pulls in a different direction.

There can be no prosperity without trade. If Hakkari wishes to prosper, it must open the way for trade. There can be no trade without peace. Without trade there is no prosperity. Hakkari’s prosperity is Turkey’s prosperity.”

- HATSO President Taş

Hakkari Chamber of Commerce and Industry Board President Servet Taş spoke during the ceremony, touching on such matters as the turbulent period of the region in the last 30 years, the hope for peace for the future as well as the need for the involvement of the state and NGOs to make it possible for the province to develop.

Taş emphasized the need to reopen the Çukurca-Üzümlü and Şemdinli-Derecik customs gates as soon as possible in order to contribute to the economic development of the province.

President Taş stated that there are many issues ranging from education, health, transportation, agriculture and livestock husbandry needing solutions.

Taş went on to say, “The steps towards peace taken during the spring celebration last year have shone on the hearts of all our people.”