Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Hisarcıklıoğlu attended “The Stars of Production” awards ceremony held by the Kahramanmaraş Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KMTSO). Along with him were; TESK President Bendevi Palandöken, TÜRK-İŞ President Mustafa Kumlu, HAK-İŞ President Mahmut Arslan, TZOB President Şemsi Bayraktar. They were greeted by women entrepreneurs at the KMTSO.

Hisarcıklıoğlu addressed the industrialists after signing the honor book of KTMSO. TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that TOBB’s goal of becoming one of the top 10 economies of the world by 2023, set in 2003, has now become a national goal. Emphasizing that all branches of government and administration have come together for a shared cause, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that in order to reach its goal, Turkey must deal with unemployment and increase its number of entrepreneurs and went on;

“Turkey must increase its number of entrepreneurs. Today, in Turkey, 750,000 people join the workforce every year. This means we need to find employment for 750,000 citizens every year. We can only achieve this by increasing the number of entrepreneurs. In this regard, you are doing a very important job. The number of entrepreneurs in Turkey today is 400,000 whereas Japan has 6.6 million. If we compare populations, Japan with 120 million and Turkey with 74 million, we are at only a third of where we should be in terms of entrepreneur numbers. If our goal is to make Turkey richer then we must increase the number of entrepreneurs.”

Emphasizing that Kahramanmaraş is a city of heroes and men of ideas, TOBB President said, “You have accomplished extraordinary deeds as the children of Sütçü İmam and Rıdvan Hoca. You’ve made Kahramanmaraş the cornerstone of Turkey.  You’ve accomplished by working in unison as employer, employee, mayor and municipality director. Success brings about more success.”

- “We must increase the number of women entrepreneurs”

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that even though Turkish people come from a culture which views waste as forbidden, disregarding half the population is the greatest waste of all and went on to say that women must take their place in business life and entrepreneurship.

Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Half of our population is women. The ratio of enterprising women is only 6.5%, a mere 1.4 million women. In this day and age where we provide the highest quality of education to our daughters we unfortunately, think ‘educate girls well and wed them after they graduate’. This is tradition, and we will do it. But I will ask you one question. Who do we set as an example to us as Muslims? Our Revered Prophet. Is our Revered Prophet an example for us? That is what we call tradition. I ask you, the fathers of Maraş; Which profession did the wife of our Revered Prophet hold? She was a merchant.

She was the greatest merchant of Mecca. And what do you do with your daughters? Weren’t you the ones saying that your role model was the Prophet? If you follow someone’s example then you must go through with it with decisive action. If that is the case then you must give our daughters a chance. The most beneficent of people are they who are beneficent to other people. How can you be beneficent to others today? By providing them employment.”

- “We want to become richer together as 74 million”

Stating that Turkey record growth for the first 6 months of 2011are not reflected on other tables, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that there is a need for structural reforms. Hisarcıklıoğlu went on;

“We have set ourselves a goal, to be one of the top 10 economies in the world. We want the average personal income to reach 25,000 dollars. In other words, we want to prosper. We want to become richer together, all 74 million of us. To achieve this, we must enact drastic changes. Turkey is the 17th largest economy in the world today, but the 83rd on the Humanitarian Development Index. This does not suit us. We are the 65th in the Ease of Business Index.

This is the most solid proof that shows you are heroes. You’ve created a world champion while being the 65th. It would not be out of place if you were all to receive medals. You’ve made us a world champion in growth in 6 months. Now, we have to move ourselves up in the Humanitarian Development Index from 83 to 10, likewise for the Ease of Business Index.

- A new constitution is imperative

We must reach top 10 in the competitiveness index from rank 59. If Turkey does not enact structural reforms, we will not progress. That is why we must rebuild Turkey from the ground up. The foundation for that is a new constitution, the contract of 74 million which signifies its unity and solidarity. That new constitution is necessary in order to remove the obstacles in the way of the system.

It is imperative that Turkey enacts the structural reforms we’ve listed. The ruling party and the opposition have agreed that it is needed. The people have agreed that it is needed.”

After the speeches Hisarcıklıoğlu presented plaques to the 17 Kahramanmaraş company directors of companies listed on the first and second top 500 companies. Hisarcıklıoğlu attended the opening of the Credit Guarantee Fund’s KMTSO branch afterwards.

- KMTSO Board President Karaküçük

In his speech, Kahramanmaraş Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Kemal Karaküçük said, “Kahramanmaraş is the shining star of Turkey in realizing the 2023 goal.”

Stating that in 5 years, 3.5 billion dollars has been invested in the real sector, President Karaküçük said, “Kahramanmaraş, which rose to 9th place in industrial energy usage and grew 400% in the last 10 years, is the shining star of Turkey in realizing the 2023 Vision. Kahramanmaraş is one of Turkey’s most important production centers in terms of economy. Its success in industrialization and expertise, increasing foreign trade capacity and expanding investments and employment is a significant addition to the national economy.

Turkey, with its 2023 Vision, is preparing to be one of the 10 most influential countries in the world. Turkey has made its boldest claim since the foundation of the Republic. Turkey has stated where it wants to be in 2023 by putting forth its economic winnings, experience, power and will. The achievement of this country’s goals, growth as well as becoming a respected and influential country in its region and throughout the world is dependent on how well its individuals and institutions are organized and productive. The will and consensus put forth once before in the War of Independence is now once again being put forth in order to create a stronger Turkey with all of its institutions cooperating. In order for Turkey to grow, economic problems such as the current deficit and unemployment as well as socio-political problems must be addressed with three main topics; investment, employment and production. These are the undeniable requirements of economy.

Valued guests, today, the world sees that countries with finance economies without real production are more susceptible to huge crises and upheavals.”

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