Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

The signatures for KOBİ.Market, formed by Turkey, Azerbaijan and Georgia, which is the electronic platform of the World SME Forum, were given yesterday in İstanbul. The platform, which was developed in order to be a solution to the problem of reaching markets, finances and talent, the common obstacles for the growth of SMEs, will provide great opportunities for SMEs of the three countries to increase their trade. The SMEs of these countries will start selling instantly by providing access to domestic and foreign market places where they can open their stores, display their products on the market.

Signing ceremony and press meeting of “Turkey-Azerbaijan-Georgia E-Commerce Cooperation Agreement” aiming to open Turkish, Georgian and Azerbaijani SMEs to the world market created by the World SME Forum was held in Istanbul TOBB Service Building with the participation of Minister of Customs and Commerce Bülent Tüfenkci.

Attending the ceremony were TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Undersecretary of the Ministry of Economy İbrahim Şenel, General Director of the World SME Forum T. Tunç Uyanık, Executive Director of the Economic Development and Communication Center Vusal Gasımlı, President of the Confederation of Azerbaijan Owners Mamed Musayev, Chairman of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Georgia Kaha Bündurashvili and Consul General of Georgia to İstanbul İrakli Asashvili.

- Hisarcıklıoğlu: Historical opportunity for SMEs

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu also stated that e-commerce offers historic opportunities for SMEs in overcoming many obstacles. Stating that Turkey failed the Industrial Revolution 200 years ago as a country and region, Hisarcıklıoğlu said:

“But there is a great opportunity before the current trade and industry, e-commerce. When we say e-commerce, we have a chance to sell any product produced in Turkey, Azerbaijan or Georgia to a South American province. As a part of KOBİ.Market, Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey SMEs are convening on a platform; it is not possible to make it as a single entity anymore in the world. It is necessary to go to regional business cooperation. In this sense SMEs in three regions will have a great opportunity to bring together our people and we will have a chance to open up to the world jointly with Georgia, Azerbaijan and Turkish SMEs.”

- Bakan Tüfenkci: It will contribute to three countries’ economy

Speaking at the signing ceremony of Customs and Trade Commerce Tüfenkci said, “It is important for SMEs to compete in the international market and meet in virtual environment with the stakeholders there.” Minister Tüfenkci announced that the developments in these fronts will bring improvements to the SMEs in regards to customs procedures and that they will continue their endeavors to bring improvements.

Minister Tüfenkci stated that KOBİ.Market will provide significant momentum to the development of SMEs, adding that the agreement would contribute significantly to the economies of the three countries.