Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Hisarcıklıoğlu visited the Sheikh Edebali Shrine in Bilecik which he had come in order to attend the opening of the new service building of the Bilecik Chamber of Commerce (TSO).

The “Bilecik TSO Service Building Opening and the Contributors to the Economy Award Ceremony” was held with the attendances of Hisarcıklıoğlu and the Bilecik Governor Halil İbrahim Akpınar.

In his speech at the ceremony, Hisarcıklıoğlu talked about the school which was built by TOBB and set on fire recently, “The elementary school we built in Van was recently set on fire; I condemn the mentality which could do this. More so do I condemn those who try to defend the actions of these people.”

Stating that businessmen vanquish hunger and poverty through employment, Hisarcıklıoğlu congratulated businessmen and said, “We have no oil, we have no natural gas but thank Allah for granting us with a great entrepreneurial spirit. Bilecik has become the center of attraction for Marmara, Central Anatolia –specifically that of Western Anatolia. You are fortunate in this regard. Hopefully when the high velocity train is completed, the travel time between İstanbul and Bilecik will be just one hour. Commuting inside İstanbul itself takes easily over an hour. They will be able to visit their factories in an hour. This is an extraordinary advantage. As many cities face an exodus of residents, Bilecik is drawing in people. Its population has increased by 10% in the last 5 years. The unemployment rate is only 7% in Bilecik while the average in Turkey is 9%. You have a good amount of resources in banks as well. Per capita deposits are over twice the average in Turkey.”

- “Our number one market is Europe”

Stating that their lines of export to developed countries is on freight train lines, Hisarcıklıoğlu noted that there are no regular freight trains from Turkey to Europe and went on, “We must use freight trains for our exports to Europe where we conduct 40% of our total export volume in order to compete. By establishing the Great Anatolian Logistics project as TOBB to this end, we have taken the initiative as the private sector to connect Central Anatolia to Europe. Hopefully this will begin soon. We want to make this country richer and to prosper. I want it even if you don’t. The only way to prosper is opening the way for us. What do we want? Money or trinkets? We want nothing. Loose these shackles on me, that’s it. That is what we want from the government.”

- “We are highly anticipating the new constitution”

Touching on the matter of constitution, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “The people should be able to write their own constitution, which will hopefully happen and will be written down in history with golden letters. I believe it. All four political parties have given their word. It was with this understanding that the constitution commission was established. They’ve told us that the constitution will be written unanimously. That is why this process can’t be done halfheartedly. We expect a new and proper constitution.”

Bilecik Governor Akpınar and Bilecik TSO President Ahmet Özünlü also made speeches. Following the speeches, awards for income and institutions tax, exports, employment record holders as well as the companies which were in the first and second 500 industrial establishments of Turkey and those which took part in UMEM received their plaques.

Bilecik TSO President Özünlü presented Hisarcıklıoğlu with a zamzam set while TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu presented Governor Akpınar and Bilecik TSO President Özünlü with plaques.
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