Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

The 13th Turkish Speaking Entrepreneurs Program, attended by participants from 21 countries and 4 autonomous regions, was conducted with training and activities taking place in Ankara, Istanbul, Kayseri and Nevşehir.

Meeting with the program participants at the TOBB Union Center and presenting with their certificates, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu spoke with each participant.

-The path to prosperity is through commerce

Making the opening speech of the meeting, Hisarcıklıoğlu related that you could travel from the Atlantic to the Pacific by speaking Turkish. “We need people who speak our language in the countries that we do business in,” spoke Hisarcıklıoğlu and said that this program acted as a bridge.

Emphasizing that the path to prosperity is through commerce, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu spoke to the participants, “We conduct these programs so you can be stronger in your countries.”

Stating that Turkey is the 16th largest economy in the world, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Today, Turkey is the strongest economy between Italy and China. 92% of our 130 billion dollar export volume is industrial goods. In the past the most common goal was to become a public servant or bureaucrat. We have changed this in the last 30 years. We discovered our enterprising spirit. We are in the second spot for contract construction in the world, likewise for transportation. We are among the 7 most preferred touristic destinations in the world. We play host to 30 million tourists every year. 30 years ago that number was 300,000. We export 60% of our goods to the European Union. We have learned to compete and to produce quality goods.”

-We have grown 10.2% in the first 6 months

Turkey grew 10.2% while the world struggled with crises said Hisarcıklıoğlu and went on, “Behind us is China. 50 billion dollars’ worth of investments have been made. You are welcome to benefit from our experience. We are brothers.”

Stating that the way to earn money is by buying and selling, Hisarcıklıoğlu suggested that the guest participants engage in closer relations with DEİK. Hisarcıklıoğlu invited the guests to the World Turkish Business Council to be held on 18-19 November.
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