Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu attended the Secretary Generals Training Seminar and addressed chamber/exchange secretary generals. Answering journalists’ questions prior to the meeting, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that, as the Turkish private sector, they cannot accept coups and went on, “Regarding the chaotic situation in Egypt, coups are unacceptable for us as the Turkish private sector. Especially in regards to the investments of the Turkish private sector abroad, one of the most important countries we focus on is Egypt. The people of Egypt have shown great sympathy for the Turkish private sector and investors in the last two and a half years. There’s no problem to that end. The people of Turkey and Egypt are already on good terms. Work is underway to gauge the effects of the Turkish – Egyptian Business Council. As of yet, there is no information. When we look at it in regards to method, we cannot abide coups.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu, in reply to a question regarding rumors that they would be establishing a new political party with President Abdullah Gül, said, “We have issued the necessary announcement regarding this matter. We have refuted these unfounded and delusive rumors. TOBB has but one goal. To do our share in enabling Turkey to reach its 2023 goals as the Turkish private sector. I find these attempts to cause dissent willfully malicious. There are attempts to obstruct Turkey from reaching its goals. “

- “We have but one policy: Economy.”

TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “I am the president of TOBB. I have said this on multiple occasions since I have taken this office in 2001. It would be quite erroneous to be a part of a political formation. We have but one policy: Economic policy. That means becoming one of the world’s top 10 economies by 2023. The greatest duty falls to the Turkish private sector. To be a country which has an exports volume of 500 billion USD, what does it mean? That means becoming 2.5 times richer as Turkey. This duty falls to us. If the issue is service, can there be a greater service rendered?”

Attending the seminar afterwards, Hisarcıklıoğlu provided information regarding TOBB’s ongoing and new projects.