Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

The 12^th Industry Congress, held by İSO in order to contribute to the development of the production industry’s competitive power, was held at the İstanbul Lütfi Kırdar International Congress and Exposition Hall, attended by TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and İstanbul Governor Hüseyin Avni Mutlu.

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said in his speech at the Congress, “If we aim to make Turkey into a global giant, we must address the questions of our industrialists quickly and move on to production high tech goods.”

Explaining that they are faced with different problems each day, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that they are fighting to keep standing. Doing this, they miss much of what is happening throughout the world, emphasized Hisarcıklıoğlu and said, “There is a favorite quote of mine by Henry Ford: ‘If I had asked people what they wanted they would have said faster horses.’ That is why I think an assessment of the global situation is appropriate at this, our Industry Congress.”

- Developments in the global economy

TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the most significant development recently is the fact that FED has decreased liquidity. Stating that the FED used to put out approximately 1 trillion USD in liquidity annually, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that this period was over.

Another important point is that the source of prosperity is industry. Production means industry; without industry there can be no advances made in regards to employment, income and prosperity.

Since 1990, mid-level tech has taken over the share of products populated by low-tech. Now, a new challenge lies before us.

While the medium tech products are on the increase in our industrial goods exports, the ratio of advanced tech goods is unable to make any headway. It is clear that the industry is in need of structural transformation.

If we aim to make Turkey into a global giant, we must address the questions of our industrialists quickly and move on to the production of high tech goods.

- We are unable to fully realize partnership culture

Stating that we should first look to ourselves for issues in need of mending, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “I travel everywhere throughout Turkey. One thing I encounter everywhere is very saddening. We have been unable to fully realize a culture of partnership. Partnership brings institutionalization. If we are unable to achieve a more institutional structure in our establishments, they will not last through the next generation.

Emphasizing the need to be open to change and new ideas, Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed to the importance of the Industry Strategy Document and various reports on certain sectors for their guiding qualities.

Hisarcıklıoğlu requested that the main priority of the government in preparing industry strategy should be structural transformation and a process of reform.

Stating that, as TOBB, they are ready to make the necessary contributions to this end and lay out an industrial map of Turkey, Hisarcıklıoğlu went on to stress the importance of R&D as well as the establishment of industry – university partnership in order to form a reciprocal cycle for research, development and the actualization of said research.

Emphasizing the importance of trust in business life, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “If there is no trust, the cost of this would be prohibitively high for the private sector. According to Francis Fukuyama, economic prosperity is proportional to the feeling of trust in society.

In order to reinforce feelings of trust in society, there must be an end to conflict in our country, dialogue between parties must exist; there must be arbitration, not polarization. Trust among people is Justas necessary for a healthy economy as for a stable democracy.”

- Other speakers

İSO President Erdal Bahçıvan expressed the grief with which they have learned of the disaster in Soma. Stating that they do not hold so narrow an view as to expect only solutions for the industry and the industrialist, Bahçıvan expressed their desire to be a part of the solution.

Exchange İstanbul President İbrahim Turan began his speech by extending his condolences for the disaster in Soma, emphasizing that real sector is and has always been the driving force of the economy. He went on to speak in regards to Exchange İstanbul’s role as a part of the 2023 goals.

İSO President Zeynep Bodur Okyay also expressed concern for the events in Soma. Touching on the subject of women’s involvement in the workforce as well as the need for a comprehensive game-plan for Turkey during this period in which the global economy’s deck is being reshuffled.