Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Speaking at the opening of the first meeting of the TOBB Industry Chambers Council in the new term at the social facilities of the Union, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the world’s economy is entering a very different period and that the developments are in essence a stress test for the countries effected.

Stating that countries with dynamic private sectors and which address the issues of the private sector are getting ahead, Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that countries which fail to do the same would be left behind.

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Turkey has overcome these troubles in a relatively short period of time thanks to its strong private sector as well as the affirmative action taken by the government and went on to draw attention to the fact that Turkey grew by a total of 20% during the global crisis while Europe shrank. Hisarcıklıoğlu said that this growth has directly reflected back onto the citizenry as employment and wealth.

Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out that the European economy of 17 trillion USD has failed to create additional employment since 2008 and said, “Turkey has created 4.5 million jobs for its citizens Turkey during the same period. The Turkish private sector created over 3.5 million jobs.”

Stating that Turkey has achieved this despite the economic crisis experienced by its neighbors to the west and political upheaval in its neighbors to its south, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that this kind of success undreamt of in many countries in the world.

- “Structural reforms must continue”

Stating that the greatest driving force behind any country is its entrepreneurs and industrialists, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Despite global upheaval and uncertain conditions in our region, the Turkish industry has proven itself through its dynamism and robustness.”

Reiterating his conviction that Turkey will surpass itself in 2023, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We will become one of the world’s 10 largest economies, make our citizens 2.5 times wealthier than today. We believe and we have the power.

All we need to achieve this is to continue making the structural reforms with the same speed. As the obstructions to production, exports and employment are eliminated one by one; as our competition conditions with our rivals become more level, our industry will make another great leap forward.”

Minister of Labor and Social Security Faruk Çelik pointed out the importance of companies on the international scale and said, “We must focus on investments and production aimed at decreasing imports. We must enact austerity measure and financial discipline. We must never make compromises in regards to financial policy, even in times of election.”