Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Giving a speech after the openings, TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu expressed his happiness for being in Aydın and that Aydın has always raised his spirits.

Emphasizing that unity and solidarity are strong in Aydın, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “There’s a culture of cooperation. This brings you prosperity.”

Stating that they have achieved many joyous firsts together, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Our Chamber of Commerce has built a culture house. This is a matter of vision. They created TanıTIR. This is what is expected of a chamber, of an exchange. Aydın’s promotion truck is in an effort to promote Aydın. It is contributing to Aydın’s economy. We must promote our goods at every opportunity. This is what this truck is doing. Also, we have opened Turkey’s first accredited food lab.”

Reminding that the Aydın Chamber of Commerce and Commodity Exchange are accredited chambers, the TOBB President said, “Accredited chamber is a 5 star chamber. This means they provide service of a quality equal to what you would find in London or Paris.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu, stating that they have also opened the Aydın Branch of the Credit Guarantee Fund for service, said, “What do the chambers do, we do not put money into our members’ pockets. But we will say that if you have a project come to us and we will vouch for you so that 27 banks will provide you with credit. We will vouch for you as long as it is a profitable project.”

In reply to requests for a school and congress center for Aydın, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Aydın deserves both a school and a congress center; I will match your every contribution to this end.”

- Turkish Trade Law

Talking about TOBB’s endeavors, the TOBB President said, “Last year, the new Turkish Trade Law entered into effect. If it had entered into effect as-is, traders and industrialists would have been at a yearly loss of 6 billion TL. Our chambers and exchange presidents conducted a superb effort. This was a law of 1575 clauses. I met with the Deputy Prime Minister and the Ministers for 30 hours. Changes were brought to the parliament. These were passed with the support of the four political parties. A burden of 6 billion TL has been lifted from our backs. Thanks to my chamber and exchange presidents, precautions were taken before 6 billion TL was taken out of our wallets.

There were 18 instances of prison sentences. If your store sign fell down, there was a prison sentence of 78,000 TL. If you couldn’t pay that, it was 730 days of prison. Chambers prevented this. They have served in many other ways.”

- Retail sector

Stating that they are working to pass the law regarding the retail sector, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “This is the only thing I haven’t been able to do. I did manage to get a clause into the Turkish Trade Law. Payments to traders who provide goods, especially to chain stores will be made in 60 days at the latest.”

- Aydın economy

Stating that there’s industry, tourism, energy and agriculture in Aydın, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “You should be thankful for that. This is found nowhere else. A quarter of all olive trees in Turkey are in Aydın. Half of all thermal water is in Aydın. Think big. We must brand and market regional goods. Prosperity will follow in its tracks.”

Stating that Turkey has made a giant leap, especially in the last 30 years, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Today we export 150 billion USD. 30 years may sound like a long time for a human, but for a nation, it is but a moment. This is a great story of success. The late Özal widened our horizons, he knew us better than we did. It became apparent that we have a great enterprising spirit. Where before we sold just tobacco, grapes and nuts, today we export industrial goods to Europe and the whole world.”

- Goal to enter the top 10 economies

Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu reminded that Turkey aims to become one of the world's top ten economies by 2023 when it will be celebrating its centennial anniversary and emphasized that this goal concerns every countrymen.

Stating that the per capita income has reached 10,000 USD, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that when the 2023 goal is reached this would be at the level of 25,000 USD and went on: "This means we will be 2.5 times richer than today. My ancestors ruled three continents. My ancestors founded 16 empires. The number of states we established is approximately 252. What suits us would be to be number one. If we do not waste our energy fighting each other, but instead put that energy towards the future of this country, we can make this country the first among all the world."

- New constitution efforts

Touching on the efforts for the new constitution, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the system in Turkey needs to be reconstructed from the bottom up.

Stating that, as the Turkish private sector, they are of the opinion that the system must be rebuilt from the ground up, Hisarcıklıoğlu concluded with, "The rebuilding of a country's system from the ground up is only possible with a new constitution. All four political parties have given us their word in regards to a new constitution and we thank them for it. A commission of equal representation has been formed at the parliament. This is an indication of something we wish greatly for: the first completely civilian constitution based on understanding and unity."

- Aydın TB President Bosnalı and Aydın TO President Dokuzlu

Aydın Commodity Exchange (TB) President Adnan Bosnalı reported that the lab established for dry fig exporters with a personnel number of 3 in 2002 has, today, grown to 8 departments with 33 personnel and able to provide analyses on all food groups on par with European standards.

Aydın Chamber of Commerce (TO) President İsmail Hakkı Dokuzlu stated that they have reached a significant level of cooperation with chambers and exchanges and as a result, have opened up a fresh fruit and vegetables customs gate in Aydın as well as making important advances in regards to the matter of an airport.

Stating that the high speed train has begun to bear fruit , Dokuzlu requested that the agricultural high school to be built in Aydın by TOBB be turned into a school complex with its own gym and conference hall.

- Turkey's first accredited laboratory

Aydın Commodity Exchange Food Control Laboratory boasts 6 units able to conduct analysis on microtoxins, chemicals, physical examination, heavy metals, microbiology and waste water. The lab is the first accredited one in Turkey.