Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said at the opening that they are in Ordu for an auspicious occasion. Thanking the Minister of National Education Mahmut Özer, who is with them at today's school opening, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they witnessed both the previous duties of Minister Özer and his actions during his time as deputy minister.

“Allah bless their efforts. We are grateful to him for his support to our private sector in both education and professional fields. If this school has reached its opening point, it is because they have contributed greatly in the ministry and as deputy minister. We must never forget that,” he said.

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey turned 70 in 2022 and said, “It is our 70^th anniversary. We commemorate our founders and everyone who has contributed to this day with gratitude and respect. Because we're continuing their legacy. I would like to thank from the bottom of my heart all the chambers, exchanges and members who have given strength to the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey and which I enjoy working with.”

Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that after 70 years, they continue to work for strong Turkey and strong economy with the same spirit and excitement. “‎As the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey, we believe that education is the primary issue of the country. ‎We acted with this vision. As the most important investment area, we heard that there is a need for new schools for our country. As TOBB, we have built 153 educational facilities for our country and our young people. We are very happy about that.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu said that they continue to support students in need, “Since 2002, we have provided educational assistance to 200,000 student brothers and sisters in 81 provinces through chambers and exchanges every year and we continue to do so.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out that they distributed 30,000 tablets and computers with the support of chambers and exchanges in order to ensure equal opportunities in distance education during the Covid-19 pandemic. In order to carry our country and business world to the future, we established the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey University of Economics and Technology in 2003. Today, although this university is young, it is among the leading universities.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the total volume of TOBB's investments in education is 3.6 billion liras. “But we’re not stopping there. We're starting a new, bigger endeavor. As TOBB, we are launching 154 new schools in 154 districts where we have chambers and exchanges within the scope of the protocol we signed with our Minister the other day.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Ordu will also build schools in Fatsa and Ünye districts and wished these investments well.

Hisarcıklıoğlu said that TOBB Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School, opened in Ordu, has a full vocational training complex with 32 classrooms, dormitories, gymnasiums, workshops and libraries, where students will receive qualified education.

TOBB President thanked everyone who contributed to the construction of TOBB Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School, especially Ordu Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Servet Şahin and Ordu Commodity Exchange President Ziver Kahraman.

- Minister of National Education Özer

Minister of National Education Mahmut Özer expressed his happiness to open this school with Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB).

Touching on the cooperation protocol they signed with TOBB last week, Özer thanked Hisarcıklıoğlu for the project to build 154 schools to 154 districts.

Özer emphasized that they have experienced a very important period in education in Turkey in the last 20 years, “A great education mobilization took place in all districts in 81 provinces in our country in all areas from preschool to higher education. Within the scope of this mobilization, many schools and many classroom education systems were introduced in all our provinces and these investments quickly contributed greatly to the increase of our country's enrolment rates.”

Özer pointed out that they have reached 116 Vocational Technical Anatolian High Schools as of today under the slogan “81 vocational high schools in 81 provinces” with TOBB, and explained that vocational education has performed greatly in meeting the needs of the schools and society in the country with its production capacity.

Emphasizing that the vocational training army activated its production capacity at the beginning of the pandemic, Özer stated that it was able to produce all the products needed by the society in this process and that vocational education played a big part in the success in fighting the pandemic.