Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Speaking at the opening of the meeting, İzmir Commodity Exchange Board Chairman Işınsu Kestelli stated that they are in a time where they need to focus rapidly on economy and put politics behind them.

Expressing his hope that this era will be one for leaping forward as promised by the new Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, Kestelli went on, “Because Turkey has been a medium-income country since 2006. According to our mid-term projections, we will surpass the 12,000 USD mark after 2015 and enter the high-income bracket. However, the steps we take today will determine how long we stay there or how fast we rise and fall.”

TOBB Board Vice President and EBSO Board Chairman Ender Yorgancılar touched on the matters of foreign investment distribution into İzmir; the imbalance of taxation and its returns; the as-yet unfulfilled state of İzmir’s potential in regards to economy, infrastructure and education.

Maritime Trade Chamber İzmir Branch Board Chairman Yusuf Öztürk and İzmir Chamber of Commerce Board Chairman Ekrem Demirtaş spoke in regards to freight deficit, maritime trade, lowering of taxes on employment which contributes to lowering off-the-record economy, the need to change the structure of development agencies.

Following the speeches TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu made a presentation in regards to the state of economy in Turkey and the world at large.

- Hisarcıklıoğlu’s comments on the new cabinet

Speaking with members of the press following the meeting, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu thanked the previous cabinet members and wished the new cabinet success.

In regards to the appointment of the AK Party Group Deputy President Nurettin Canikli as Customs and Commerce Minister, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Mr. Nurettin Canikli is intimately familiar with business. He is knowledgeable in the inner workings of economy. I hope that we will attain success together.”

Wishing the minister success in their endeavors during their time in office until the elections in 2015, Hisarcıklıoğlu went on, “Hopefully Turkey will start reforms to move towards its 2023 goals, may the new Prime Minister and the President of the Republic be beneficial to this end.”