Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Mehmet Akif Ersoy was a great thinker and a courageous patriot.

Stating that Ersoy’s “Safahat” is a reference book of great personal development for him, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that, in recognition of his contributions to the Turkish world, TOBB has compiled Mehmet Akif’s collected works, a part of which were previously unpublished.

Stating that he has come to Burdur to urge the academic staff to bring up students with an entrepreneurial spirit, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We want to prosper, all 78,000,000 of us. Is there any among you who would say otherwise? The only way for the country to prosper is through enterprise.”

Pointing out that, on average, an entrepreneur provides employment to 10 people, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “They provide the means to livelihood for 10 others. This is extraordinary. Turkey’s biggest problem in the future will be unemployment. The solution to this lies in entrepreneurship. 900,000 people join the workforce in Turkey annually. Turkey must find employment for these people. This can only be achieved through entrepreneurs. If we do not foster entrepreneurs, unemployment will result in great problems.”

Stating that despite heavy losses in WWII, Germany and Japan sprang back in relatively short time to become global economic power houses due to entrepreneurs, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that Turkey discovered its entrepreneurial spirit in the last 35 years.

Burdur Governor Hasan Kürklü stated that they want to build a new school for Burdur with TOBB’s support.

MAKÜ Rector Prof. Dr. Adem Korkmaz reported that the doctorate has been awarded to Hisarcıklıoğlu on the basis of his contributions to education with the unanimous decision of the senate.

Following the speeches, Prof. Dr. Korkmaz presented Hisarcıklıoğlu with his honorary doctorate and vestments.

- Burdur Development Institute opened

Following the honorary doctorate ceremony, TOBB President. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu attended the opening of the Burdur Development Institute and cut the ribbon along with Burdur Governor Kürklü and Rector Korkmaz.

In his speech, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the first step in university-industry cooperation has been taken by MAKÜ and stressed the importance of Burdur entrepreneurs making use of the Burdur Development Institute in order to actualize their ideas.