Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Attending the Kapıkule TIR Park Foundation Laying Ceremony were TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Minister of Health Mehmet Müezzinoğlu, Customs and Tourism Enterprises (GTİ) Board Chair Arif Parmaksız, Edirne Governor Dursun Ali Şahin, Edirne Municipality Recep Gürkan, Edirne Chamber of Commerce and Industry Board Chair Recep Zıpkınkurt, Edirne Commodity Exchange Özay Öztürk, Edirne Province Gendarmerie Commander Colonel Kamuran Ersan, Province Police Director Adnan Armağan Erdoğan as well as many other state and institution heads in addition to members of the press. Speaking at the ceremony TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We have been working to put this into motion since 2009. We had been unable to convince the government but a new mentality has surfaced and thankfully today we are laying the foundations. Hopefully, the sight before you today will have changed greatly in 4 months.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Kapıkule is the largest customs gate in the country and the second largest in the world. In 2014, a total of 480,000 TIR vehicles passed through here. The lines of TIRs waiting at the gates were featured in news while our fare costs kept increasing. Our TIR drivers were subjected to unnecessary discomfort. This situation unsuited to the age, was not becoming of Turkey. Hopefully, this new facility will bring it to an end and we will have a modern TIR Park with an automated system.”

- Turkey’s customs gate customization is an example worldwide

Reporting that they’ve invested in the modernization of 7 customs gates to this day and their investments are close to completion on many others, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Until today, we have invested a total of 675 million TRY and paid 296 million TRY in taxes. Still, it is the private sector who will ultimately benefit from this. The decrease in wait times has resulted in 410 million TRY in savings.

UN points to our custom gates modernization as exemplary.

We’ve moved up to 30^th place from 39^th in the World Bank’s index and we’ve done it all without taking a single centime from the treasury.

This is what Chambers and exchanges do. We lower the costs for our members and allow them to move forward.”

Stating that they’ve also taken on the renovation of the Selimiye Mosque, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that they would undertake many important duties with the foundation they’ve established with the residents of Edirne.

Hisarcıklıoğlu extended his thanks to the Minister of Health Müezzinoğlu for his support in all fields for the private sector.

- Minister of Health Müezzinoğlu

Minister of Health Dr. Mehmet Müezzinoğlu expressed his wishes that the TIR Park will benefit Edirne and TIR drivers, stating that a more modern and civilized service would take the place of the old.

- Other speakers

Customs and Tourism Enterprises (GTİ) Board Chair Arif Parmaksız provided information in regards to the improvements made to the customs gate and stated that the Kapıkule TIR Park would be completed in less than a year.

Edirne Governor Dursun Ali Şahir stated that, finally, Edirne would have a modern TIR park. Stating that a TIR Park is a necessity, Şahin went on to say that the investments of the private sector and state are like the wings of a bird – that no flight is possible with only one.

Edirne Municipality Director Recep Gürkan stated that value would be garnered from all gates operated by the Selimiye Foundation and GTİ.