Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

TOBB and ICC National Committee Chairman M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Deputy Minister of Commerce Rıza Tuna Turagay, ICC Secretary General John Denton, Founder and President of Habitat Association Sezai Hazır, Facebook Middle East, Africa and Turkey Regional Vice President Derya Matraş attended the signing ceremony.

- Hisarcıklıoğlu’s ‘becoming a global entrepreneur’ message

The ICC Entrepreneurship Centre aims to add local companies to the international network. TOBB and ICC National Committee of Turkey Chairman M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said at the signing ceremony; While referring to the need to contribute more to the expansion of entrepreneurship and diversifying entrepreneurship models, “Only in this way, entrepreneurs in our region can become players at the global trade level. The way to become an entrepreneur at the global level can be achieved primarily by becoming a regional entrepreneurship center with entrepreneurs from the Balkans, Caucasus, Central Asia, North Africa and gulf countries.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu, noting that the entire network of the ICC has come to Istanbul at the global level with the ICC Entrepreneurship Center Istanbul Regional Office, said, “Within this global network, there are Chambers of Commerce and Associations and ICC member international companies from more than 100 countries. It will work to improve the skills of young people, to help our local entrepreneurs, start-ups, establish connections globally and increase their relationship. In short, the global network is now closer to our entrepreneurs with our ICC National Committee of Turkey and the İstanbul Office of the ICC Entrepreneurship Center.”

Emphasizing that they see the future of the business world and the country in entrepreneurship, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu noted that technology has a big share in young people's entrepreneurship as a career option. Hisarcıklıoğlu, “When we're building our future, we need to understand the concept of technology first. Many technologies that are at the center of our lives today were not invented 10 years ago.  On the list of the world's largest companies, finance and energy companies used to be predominantly. Now he sees technology initiatives on the global giants list that have not been in the past 10-15 years.”

- Deputy Minister of Commerce Rıza Tuna Turagay

Deputy Trade Minister Rıza Tuna Turagay pointed out in his speech that this cooperation is a very important step for Turkey, underlining that they care very much about entrepreneurship offices. Stating that their main task is to increase exports, Turagay said, “Last year we increased our exports by 2.2%. We are one of the 8 countries in the world which increased exports by the most value. In this developing world, we need to increase the number of entrepreneurs by taking advantage of our digital environment. And for that, these centers are very important. We have a long way to go.”

Turagay said that these centers need to raise awareness as much as possible, adding, “There's a way for businesses to reach new doors. Our people have an entrepreneurial spirit, but we can't turn it into action. We need to transfer social media to business more.” Deputy Minister of Commerce Turagay provided information on the ministry of commerce's projects to increase entrepreneurship and trade, and stressed that as the Ministry they will always support entrepreneurs.

- ICC Secretary General John Denton

ICC Secretary General John Denton also mentioned that they have established quality partnerships all over the world, and said, “One of the most important of these is the partnerships we have established with Mr. Hisarcıklıoğlu, TOBB and Turkish companies.” Denton mentioned that they want to make Istanbul an entrepreneurial center for the Caucasus and Central Asia.

John Denton said, “Our goal is to make business opportunities available all over the world. Let technology work for everyone, improve global quality. We see entrepreneurship as creating opportunities. To create opportunities for people who are trying to get by. The ICC is trying to create opportunities for others in partnership with TOBB. Let the market economy bring its opportunities to everyone. We need to create mechanisms to make this possible. We want to see the potential of Turkey's connections. We're going to get people in Istanbul to find a place to hold on to. We're going to put our strengths in place. We'll build bridges. To support the entrepreneur, we need to create an ecosystem. The ICC will achieve what governments are lacking in.”

- Facebook Middle East, Africa and Turkey Regional Vice President Derya Matraş

Facebook Middle East, Africa and Turkey Regional Vice President Derya Matraş said, “We are very happy that we can help SMEs who want to cross borders in partnership with the Istanbul Regional Office of the ICC Entrepreneurship Center in a wide range of fields such as foreign trade, law, digital economy, intellectual property, competition.”

- Habitat Association Founder and President Sezai Hazır

Habitat Association Founder and President Sezai Hazır said they believe SMEs who visit the community center will grow their business abroad after the ICC joined the Facebook, TOBB and Habitat partnership.