Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), the umbrella organization of the Turkish private sector, is celebrating its 70^th anniversary. TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said that the Union, which has made great strides in 70 years, has reached an exemplary point.

Reminding that TOBB, which entered into force on March 15^th, 1950 and held its first General Assembly on February 6^th, 1952, effectively implemented the organ elections on February 7^th, 1952, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “TOBB has become a global actor from a local institution in 70 years. 365 Chambers and Exchanges, 65 Sector Councils and our country's business world have come together both geographically and sectoral. He was elected to the management of all private sector institutions between the Atlantic and the Pacific and reached a position that defended the rights and law of the Turkish private sector at the international level.”

- TOBB was a pioneer

Stating that as TOBB, they pioneered Turkey's dream of producing cars, Hisarcıklıoğlu said: “Bringing together TOGG investors, providing services to the private sector ranging from vocational training at home to modernization of land customs gates, from Credit Guarantee Fund to Mediation and Dispute Resolution Centers, from licensed warehouses to the establishment of the Turkish Specialized Commodity Exchanges, to the opening of a Turkish Trade Center abroad, facilitating, the Chamber-Exchange system has reached a globally exemplary level. TOBB, which fulfills its great responsibility to bring the private sector together and to provide unity of power with our continuously increasing activities and institutional capacity, not only identified and expressed problems with its result-oriented studies, but also offered permanent solutions to them and ensured its implementation.”

- Thanks to those who contributed

Hisarcıklıoğlu also thanked those who have made important contributions to the community throughout TOBB's history and said: “I commemorate our founders and those who contributed with respect and gratitude. From the past to the present, I wholeheartedly congratulate all those who contributed to the current position of TOBB by working hard, especially our first President, the late Üzeyir Avunduk, and I pay tribute to those who have passed on. After 70 years, we continue to work with the same spirit, the same excitement, for Strong Turkey and strong economy.”

TOBB FIRST BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Üzeyir Avunduk (Ankara Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Vehbi Koç (Ankara Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Feyzi Dural (Adana Chamber of Commerce and Industry), İzzet Akosman (İstanbul Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Şükrü Kerimzade (İstanbul Chamber of Commerce and Industry), Selahattin Sanver (İzmir Chamber of Commerce), Osman Kibar (İzmir Chamber of Industry), Haydar Dündar (İzmir Chamber of Commerce), Aziz Zeytinoğlu (Eskişehir Chamber of Commerce and Industry)