Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Held at the Head Teacher Hall of the National Education Ministry and hosted by Education Meetings National Education Ministry Undersecretary Dr. M. Emin Zararsız and the attendance of TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu. Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out the importance of education and young population, sharing examples with the audience.

Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that the most important issue is not unemployment but lack of vocation. Stating that the least ratios of unemployment in the world are to be found in Germany and Austria, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Because the vocational education programs there are conducted together with the chambers of commerce and industry.” In this regard, Hisarcıklıoğlu touched on the importance of the UMEM Ability’10 Vocational Training Project conducted in Turkey.

Emphasizing the need to look continually forward, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “You lose the moment you look back. I won’t look back to see who I’ve passed. I always look to the one ahead me. We must look to see what we will do. Leadership and vision necessitates this.” Recounting that Germany and Japan were decimated in 1945 but recovered thanks to their entrepreneurs, becoming the first two economies of the world, the TOBB President said, “Allah has granted us neither petroleum nor natural gas, but we have been granted a great entrepreneurial spirit. We discovered that with the late Özal. At the time we had 3 billion USD export volume. When the late Özal said produce and sell to the world, everyone laughed at him. Today, our exports reach 150 billion USD.”

- “We are lacking in cooperation”

Drawing attention to the importance of working and doing business together, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that we are lacking in cooperation. M Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, requesting that teachers impart a culture of cooperation to our youth and went on, “Though we embrace each other in every time of need, we fall apart whenever we reach comfort. So it is with trade as well. Allah tells us to love each other. Without love we cannot be perfect. We must teach our children to love each other.”

Stating that without spreading a culture of cooperation, success will be difficult to reach, Hisarcıklıoğlu also made observations on leadership and management. Stating that a manager uses his authority while a leader uses his influence, the TOBB President said that while a manager holds authority, a leader has vision. Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Being a leader is being a manager twice over.”

- Success comes with teamwork

Recalling the saying, ‘birds of a feather stick together,’ Hisarcıklıoğlu said that success comes with teamwork. TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “I have five principles: Savings are made with austerity. The trick is honesty. Check first, trust later. Relying on memory will always fail you. There can be no covering for someone in business. Leadership and entrepreneurship starts off with a dream. Dreams are where we are the most liberated. Our dreams should be big. Afterwards, we must pick our goals. Our goals must also be big. If you want to reach to top of the tree, aim for the stars. Nothing will come of this if you don’t work hard. Never be afraid to lose when you are doing this, keep striving. If you change your goals often, you will lose. Strive to reach your goal.”

- It is a time for inventions

Stating that they have always been berated for rocking the boat, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “However today is a day for inventions. You will bring new traditions to an old town. Your minds must always be open to innovations.” Also touching on the importance of the concept of justice, Hisarcıklıoğlu urged that, “Nobody should be alienated” TOBB President ended his speech by stating that we should strive for a society wherein the right makes might, not the vice versa.
​