Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and the Minister of Finance Mehmet Şimşek attended the Contributors to Batman Awards Ceremony held at the Batman Cultural Center.

TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu, in his speech replying to the question asking what the chambers do, stated that had the Turkish Trade Law not been changed, it would have been 6 billion TL out of the private sector’s pocket. Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Our chambers and commodity exchanges are undertook great efforts to see the legislation change. I relayed this to the government. We conducted meetings for 30 hours to change these clauses and changed the legislation with the support of our assembly representatives.

Eighteen instances of prison sentences were cancelled. If the law had not been change you would have been charged 73,000 TL in fines. If you couldn’t pay you would be incarcerated for 730 days. I asked the ministers how we would solve unemployment if we imprison business owners.”

Stating that there is no commerce without peace, the TOBB President said that there would be no prosperity without commerce and that the only way prosperity would come to Batman and the region is through commerce and peace.

Reminding that a protocol for the construction of an Anatolian High School in Batman had been signed, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that the school would strive to bring up new Mehmet Şimşek’s.

Hisarcıklıoğlu drew attention to the fact that Batman is moving rapidly towards becoming a brand city, “If the opinion leaders of the city work together prosperity will come to that city.” Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Batman had the potential to surpass Gaziantep as a brand city of the region.

- Entrepreneurship

Drawing attention to the fact that the women employment is below the desired level, Hisarcıklıoğlu reminded that the wife of the Revered Prophet Muhammed, Revered Hatice was also a trader, and urged that families send their daughters to school and teach them to be entrepreneurial.

Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Parents want their daughters to attend higher education, get married and then stay at home. This is a waste.”

Minister of Treasury Mehmet Şimşek emphasized that the changing political stability, correct policies and structural reforms in Turkey have brought with them solutions to many problems. Şimşek said, “The country needs peace. Turkey will come to a vastly different place when it solves its problems. The solution to these problems requires the contribution and support of everyone. We are here to solve problems.”

After the speeches, the winners of the income and institutions taxes categories received their awards.