Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Efforts for accreditation of chambers and commodity exchanges are underway The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) with all due haste. With the 21 chambers and commodity exchanges which received their accreditation certificates from TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, the number of 5-star service providers has reached 152. With the completion of 69 chambers and commodity exchanges’ work towards accreditation certification, the number of 5-star chambers will reach 221. TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that their goal is to certify all 365 chambers and commodity exchanges, reaching the level of 5 star chambers and commodity exchanges.

The 9^th Term Chambers and Commodity Exchanges Accreditation Certificate Ceremony was held at the TOBB Union Center. Speaking at the ceremony attended by the Council and Board chairmen and members of the 221 chambers and commodity exchanges which have been accredited or are in the process of accreditation, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they have always strived to lead, to forge ahead and to blaze new paths and that the accreditation system is of great importance in regards to the standardization of service quality.

Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that the accredited chambers and commodity exchanges would be considered 5 star service providers and went on, “This certificate is the guarantee that, whatever quality of services are provided to members of chambers and commodity exchanges found in London, Paris or Berlin, will also be provided to the members of our chambers and commodity exchanges. When 221 chambers and exchanges receive their certificates we will have reached a certification level of 60% of all of our chambers and commodity exchanges.”

Talking about how the 365 chambers and commodity exchanges under TOBB have come to speak English and to develop projects, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that chambers and commodity exchanges are churning out projects. M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “As of the end of 2012, our chambers and commodity exchanges have competed over 450 projects. Our chambers and exchanges have used 400 million TL in grants. The number of projects completed in 2013 is 351. We have almost surpassed the number of total projects prior to last year in just the last year alone –during which we also used 207 million TL in grants.”

- Chambers and commodity exchanges are forging new paths

Providing information regarding the activities of TOBB’s chambers and commodity exchanges, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that chambers and exchanges have become institutions which forge new paths and lead the way for others. Stating that they have achieved a level wherein they have begun exporting their knowledge, the TOBB President reported that they provide training to the secretaries general of the trade organizations of 57 Islamic countries. Having spoken to the Kazakhstan President Nazarbayev, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that the President has since taken steps to implement the chambers system found in Turkey in Kazakhstan and went on to say that the President of the Union of Commerce and Industry Chambers of Germany said to him, “We knew the German chambers system to be the best in the world; it seems that we have some things to learn from you.”

Stating that the business world always focuses on the big picture, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “It is very important for the country’s economy to grow. If the economy lacks strength, there is no prosperity for its citizens and neither is there any weight behind the country in international matters. That is why we took steps to open the way for our members. We forced the government to focus on the economy because we are responsible to the masses which carry Turkey.”

Having played an important role in bringing much needed changes to the Turkish Trade Law and freeing private sector from a yearly burden of 6 billion TL, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that they are working to bring about the implementation of a procedure which will end risk associated with checks, “Companies which register with the program via our chambers will be able to view each other’s records.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu also reported that they have switched over to the electronic record keeping of the trade registry as well as bring order to expos and insurance under TOBB’s roof; TIR and ATA carnets providing assurance for exports.

Speaking at the seminar held after lunch, TOBB Board Vice President Halim Mete stated that in order to become accredited, chambers and commodity exchanges need to undergo 3 basic processes including training, development visits and inspections.

Also during the seminar, TEPAV Director Güven Sak provided a brief presentation on Turkey’s and the world’s economy.

- 9^th term first time certified chambers / exchanges

The chambers and commodity exchanges which received their accreditation certificates for the first time at the TOBB Union Center were:

Akhisar Commodity Exchange, Akşehir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Batman Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Burdur Commodity Exchange, Bursa Commodity Exchange, Çorlu Commodity Exchange, Erdek Chamber of Commerce, Fatsa Chamber of Commerce and Industry, İnegöl Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kastamonu Commodity Exchange, Keşan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Manisa Commodity Exchange, Menemen Chamber of Commerce, Muğla Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Of Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Siirt Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tarsus Commodity Exchange, Tire Chamber of Commerce, Turgutlu Commodity Exchange, Ünye Commodity Exchange, Yalvaç Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

- Recertified chambers / exchanges

Chambers and Commodity exchanges which renewed their accreditation certificates were:

Adana Chamber of Industry, Çanakkale Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Antakya Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Erzincan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Aydın Chamber of Commerce, Eskişehir Commodity Exchange, Balıkesir Chamber of Commerce, Fethiye Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bodrum Chamber of Commerce, Giresun Commodity Exchange, Çorum Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Isparta Commodity Exchange, Düzce Chamber of Commerce and Industry, İzmir Commodity Exchange, Edirne Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Karacabey Commodity Exchange, Isparta Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Karaman Commodity Exchange, Kocaeli Chamber of Commerce, Karapınar Commodity Exchange, Kayseri Chamber of Commerce, Ereğli ( Konya )  Commodity Exchange, Malatya Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kuşadası Chamber of Commerce, Ordu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mersin Deniz Chamber of Commerce, Salihli Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tokat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Van Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Çarşamba Commodity Exchange, Aydın Commodity Exchange, Kahramanmaraş Commodity Exchange, Bandırma Chamber of Commerce, Trabzon Commodity Exchange, Biga Commodity Exchange, Ünye Chamber of Commerce and Industry.