Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated in his speech that TOBB is monitoring the work underway in regards to increasing the minimum wage closely.

Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We’re not saying our employees should make less money. We’ve no such wish. They should earn more. The more they earn the more we prosper. Is it even possible for us to prosper otherwise?” Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that adding anything other than inflation and prosperity adjustments to the minimum wage would drastically reduce the competitive edge of the private sector. “99.2% of our establishments are SMEs. Their profit before taxes is 40 billion TRY. I’m not mentioning taxes yet. If we were to shoulder the burden of this new minimum wage that would cost us 26 billion TRY. SMEs would lose their competitive power. We want to distribute this burden. Don’t load it all on us, we don’t have the power to carry it. Let’s all shoulder it together. It would please us if our employees’ wages increased to 1,300 TRY. It would give them more to spend.”

Reporting that dishonored cheques are on the rise, Hisarcıklıoğlu urged the use of QR coded cheques by business people. Hisarcıklıoğlu also lamented the fact that the Credit Guarantee Fund is not well enough known.

Stating that the only risk-free investment is the one made in education, Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that Gaziantep is the province with the second highest number of industrial design applications and the sixth in terms of brand-patent applications, with many countless other successes, “I congratulate you all.”

- Deputy PM Şimşek

Deputy Prime Minister Mehmet Şimşek stated that Turkey is experiencing a difficult time. Stressing the importance of unity and solidarity in overcoming these difficult times and turning such a period into opportunity, Şimşek said, “If the trick to business is honesty then the trick to prosperity is reform.”

Minister Şimşek continued his speech with his “Turkey: Structural Transformation Vision” presentation, underlining the necessity of reforms in Turkey.

Touching on the minimum wage discussion, Şimşek reminded that the government will be taking on the costs of onsite training for all laborers this year.

Minister Şimşek stressed the need to very carefully handle the minimum wage discussion, pointing out the effects of it on the competitive power of the private sector.

- Adil Konukoğlu

GSO Board Chairman Adil Konukoğlu stated that they would be awarding the heroes of Gaziantep’s quest for industrialization for their contributions through labor, self-sacrifice and courage.

Konukoğlu stated that Gaziantep is one of the important cities directing the country’s economy. He reported that despite a difficult year in terms of international trade, Gaziantep has still managed to enter the top 10 cities at number 5.

- Other speakers

Governor Ali Yerlikaya and Mayor Fatma Şahin also spoke during the event, providing information regarding their endeavors in service of Gaziantep.