Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

On the 70^th anniversary of the establishment of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), representatives of the business world from 81 provinces met at the Union Center in Ankara. At the meeting hosted by TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Trade Minister Mehmet Muş, Cemil Çiçek, who was the Speaker of the Grand National Assembly, Hayati Yazıcı, who was the Minister of Trade, Deputies, Chamber and Commodity Exchange Board of Directors and Council Presidents and delegates took part.

In his speech, Minister of Trade Mehmet Muş congratulated the 70^th anniversary of TOBB and said, “We have always known that TOBB, which has become one of the strongest and most effective organizations in our country, plays a very important role in the economic development of our country. The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey has continuously improved itself since its establishment, and as a result of its 70-year journey, it has become an important global actor that carries our private sector abroad from a local organization to worldwide collaborations and carries our private sector abroad with the tasks it undertakes.”

Minister Mehmet Muş stated that as the government, they have prepared the legislative infrastructure needed by the companies and that it is through public and private sector cooperation to achieve successful results in the economy.

Emphasizing the importance of the growth of Turkish economy despite global developments, Minister Muş said, “Turkey continued its high-rate growth performance by growing by 7.3 percent in the first quarter of 2022.”

- 70^th Anniversary Commemorative Forest

TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said that as a community, they have come a long way in 70 years. Hisarcıklıoğlu, who announced that they decided to create a 70^th Anniversary Commemorative Forest in order to crown the 70^th anniversary of the establishment as the Board of Directors, said, “We will plant 70,000 saplings. We will bring this forest, which befits our community, to our country. Thus, we will both contribute to the environment and nature and leave a permanent legacy to future generations.”

Stating that TOBB has transformed from a local institution into a global actor in 70 years, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they have provided power unity in the private sector with the activities they have increased and the institutional capacity they have developed. Stating that they have come to a position that defends the rights and laws of the private sector at the international level, the TOBB President stated that they have identified the obstacles to business and investment environment and relayed them to the government.

Hisarcıklıoğlu said: “We have reached a level where the Chamber-Commodity Exchange system, which pioneered to realize Turkey's dream of producing automobiles, put TOGG into practice, started licensed warehouses, which has been our dream for 50 years in agriculture, established the Turkey Product Specialized Exchange, opened a Trade Center abroad and provided services to the private sector in a wide range of ways, facilitated their work, and where the Chamber-Commodity Exchange system was shown as an example in the world. We have become pioneers of change and transformation. Of course, we still have a lot of work to do. To get our country to the place it deserves, the business world has to run faster.”

- Service Honor Certificate and Presentation

At the 70^th anniversary event, service honor certificates and plaques were presented to the delegates and general secretaries who served for 10-20-30 years.