Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Konya Economy Awards Ceremony was held at the Konya Chamber of Commerce with the participation of the Minister of Customs and Commerce Bülent Tüfenkci and TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu.

Hisarcıklıoğlu thanked Minister Tüfenkci and said, “A minister from within our very own community. He is more of a host than all of us. He has been a patron to our community from the day he took office. The consultative spirit of our Prophet (PBUH) has been wholly embraced by the Minister. He consults with our community on all issues. He is one of the greatest architects of the reforms which have been enacted with the direction of our community. He is closely monitoring the issues of the business community.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu congratulated companies receiving awards, “I congratulate the entire Konya business community. They’ve done a great job. Twenty years ago, Konya was known as ‘Turkey's breadbasket,” an agricultural city. In just 20-30 years you’ve made Konya the center of modern agriculture and seed production. You are one of the biggest commerce cities in Turkey. You’ve made an industrial city exporting 1.3 billion USD. You’ve made a tourist city which hosts 2.5 million tourists. You’ve elevated education with 4 universities.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Konya is listed as one of the 500 most important cities in the world economy, as it is an exemplary city in the world with its economy and urbanism - not just Turkey.

Reminding that Konya is now targeting a 15 billion USD exports and 10 million visitors goal, the TOBB President emphasized that Konya will attain its targets soon.

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the most cited complaint is about the tax burden on employment, explaining that President Erdoğan made a statement on this issue and said, “Hire an additional person; tax and SSI premium will be provided by the state. Pay the employee's net wage, the state takes care of the rest. The second is on-the-job training. Hire the unemployed. Salary insurance from state. There is no employment condition after job training. But if you employ them for 42 months insurance employer does not pay premiums.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu reminded that TOBB and the chambers/exchanges have started work in regards to access to finance for companies, “There is cash stagnation in the market, high interest rates cut off the private sector’s breath. We achieved a first in the world. Our president said, “You have innovated in finance.’ TOBB and its Chamber-Exchanges have mobilized all resources; Ziraat Bank - Deniz Bank provide credit with an annual interest rate of 0.90% and 0.83 per month; 150 thousand TL in credit. KGF is also vouching for 85%.”

Emphasizing that Turkey is hopeful for the future, Hisarcıklıoğlu continued: “Today PKK, FETO, Daesh are attacking all at once. They are also attacking our economy. But they have not succeed and will not succeed. Turkey does not have oil or natural gas. But we have two things. One: Our love for our country. Two: Our entrepreneurial spirit. Nobody can bring this nation to kneel. The only thing we request of the state is that you open the way for us with reforms. When these are done, Turkey will be among the top 10 economies of the world.”

- Customs and Commerce Minister Tüfenkci

Customs and Commerce Minister Bülent Tüfenkci said that Turkey continued its journey despite all bad experiences.

Tüfenkci emphasized that Turkey can increase the level of prosperity as much as it can benefit from the world's prosperity.

Reminding that they’ve made many arrangements at for eliminating the financial needs of the business world, Tüfenkci reporting that the credit guarantee fund represents a collateral system with credit guarantee fund of 250 billion TRY.

After their speeches, successful business owners received their awards.

- National Employment Mobilization Begins

Following the award ceremony, Customs and Commerce Minister Bülent Tüfenkci and TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu attended the “National Employment Mobilization Start” program held at the Konya Commodity Exchange.

Speaking there, Minister Tüfenkci said that employment mobilization efforts will make Konya one of the leading industrial cities of Anatolia.