Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Hisarcıklıoğlu said that the city has a broad production infrastructure, including metal, machinery, casting, cable, electrical-electronics, and textiles.

Stating that important steps are being taken for the integration of the region’s industry into the defense and aviation ecosystem, Hisarcıklıoğlu expressed his pride in all these efforts that will increase competitiveness and brand value.

Referring to recent meetings with economic policymakers, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that the competition and financing problems experienced by the textile and ready-to-wear sectors in particular had been conveyed to the relevant ministries.

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that access to financing for SMEs must be facilitated, saying, “850 companies in Denizli benefited from breathing loans. The interest rates used by SMEs are high. It is impossible for them to bear these. First, inflation must fall to single digits. If inflation falls to single digits, we will have solved many of our problems. There is no other way to reduce them.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that regulations limiting cash credit increases, including commercial credit cards, should be lifted to facilitate access to credit, adding, “The Central Bank’s foreign exchange conversion support program is both insufficient and has conditions that are too burdensome for our members to use. Less than one-fifth of our exporting members can access it. This program needs to be simplified, and its amount and duration need to be increased. A solution must also be found for the private sector’s VAT receivables issue.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they are facing unfair and destructive competition caused by imports from the Far East, mostly dumped imports, particularly from China, and emphasized that a comprehensive package of measures and a strategy specifically targeting China is absolutely necessary.

Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu proposed that the minimum wage subsidy be increased in line with the rise in the minimum wage.

(A.A.)