Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

The Award Ceremony for the Businessmen Adding Value to Tekirdağ was honored by M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, President of TOBB; Ali Yerlikaya, Governor of Tekirdağ; Cengiz Günay, President of Tekirdağ Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Osman Sarı, President of Tekirdağ Commodity Exchange; Özlem Yemişçi, Ziyeaddin Akbulut, Bülent Belen, Deputies of Tekirdağ, and Mustafa Yardımcı, Member of Executive Board of TOBB and President of Edirne Commodity Exchange as well as presidents of chambers and commodity exchanges in nearby provinces and counties and several businessmen. 

In his speech, M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, President of TOBB, stated that there were questions as regards the function of chambers, and gave information about the activities carried out.    Reminding the recent changes in the Turkish Commercial Code, Hisarcıklıoğlu said a burden of 6 billion Liras on the business world was relieved through amendments achieved as a result of the efforts of the presidents of chambers and commodity exchanges. 

Pointing out that potential imprisonment up to 18 years was prevented as a result of these efforts, Hisarcıklıoğlu announced that a system would be launched, through which merchants, just like the banks, would be able to see the background information of the persons whom they are to supply goods on deferred payment terms. 

-Announce Beceri’10 project

Addressing the importance of UMEM Beceri’10, a project designed to solve the employment problem and provide qualified employees, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that thanks to the project, businessmen would both find the qualified workers they needed and their employment burden would be reduced by 18 percent in 4.5 years.    Pointing out that jobseekers who would undergo vocational training would both be under social insurance and receive a pocket money of 20 liras a day, President of TOBB noted that the pocket money would be raised to 25 Liras during the internship period 3 months later.  Hisarcıklıoğlu asked those press members present at the hall to announce this opportunity.

- Good news to small sized retail enterprises

Stating that the only task he was not able to realize was related to the expected law in the area of retail, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, however, an article was included in the Turkish Commercial Code as a result of their attempts, and according to that article, small and medium sized companies would be able to receive payment of the goods they sell to big chains in 60 days, at the latest.

Talking about two important projects for Thrace, Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out that modernization of İpsala Customs Gate was the concrete example for the kind of good cooperation which Thracians, who are believed never to join forces, had been achieved.    
Hisarcıklıoğlu, President of TOBB, stated that the modernization of customs gates was a unique project in the world, which reduced waiting times by half, and the private sector saved 410 million liras.  

Talking about the project BALO AŞ, Hisarcıklıoğlu said goods to be exported to Europe by Anatolian companies would be collected in Bandırma and shipped from Tekirdağ. 

-“We should dote upon the private sector"

Saying that the private sector had to be protected just as FIFA and UEFA protects star players, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We should dote upon the private sector and our entrepreneurs.   They are the foundation stone of enrichment in Turkey.  If we want to avoid unemployment for our children, we will dote upon the private sector."

Pointing out that they had only one request from the government, that was, to guarantee a level playing field to compete with the foreign competitors, and added that they needed a new constitution for that. 

-Other speakers

Osman Sarı, President of Tekirdağ Commodity Exchange also delivered a speech in which he talked about the efforts of Hisarcıklıoğlu, President of TOBB, with praise, and emphasized the importance of the point which chambers and commodity exchanges achieved today.   Sarı said they had needs such as an exhibition area, congress center and storage center, and most notably, a laboratory at international standards.

Cengiz Günay, President of Tekirdağ Chamber of Commerce and Industry stated that Hisarcıklıoğlu carried out important studies for the development of national economy. "Turkey is advancing like a train with loaded cars.    This train will never stop" he said.  Günay also underlined the importance they have attached to women and young entrepreneurs. 

Özlem Yemişçi, Deputy of Tekirdağ delivered a speech, stating that Hisarcıklıoğlu spent extraordinary efforts to encourage women and youth in the area of entrepreneurship, and extended her thanks to the President of TOBB.   Reminding the fact that Tekirdağ would be a metropolis, Yemişçi told that Tekirdağ seemed to have lower figures as the big companies had their head offices in Istanbul. 

-Two good news for Tekirdağ

Hisarcıklıoğlu, President of TOBB, heralded two good news for Tekirdağ.  Hisarcıklıoğlu announced that they decided to buy the only copy of “Celalettin Harzemşah” the first play of Namık Kemal, the national poet and symbol of Tekirdağ, which was written in his own handwriting, and to give it to Namık Kemal University as a present, and delivered the play to Osman Şimşek, President of the University.   Hisarcıklıoğlu also ‘approved’ the demand for a school in Tekirdağ, and thus, gave the second good news.

-Visit to Ali Yerlikaya, the Governor

Hisarcıklıoğlu visited Ali Yerlikaya, Governor of Tekirdağ, at his seat, and exchanged views about the economy of the city.  Hisarcıklıoğlu was accompanied by the president of the chambers and commodity exchanges of the city and nearby counties, as well as by businessmen.