Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Hisarcıklıoğlu said in his speech: “We are about to complete a long and arduous election period which began with the chamber and exchange elections. Let me extend my well wishes for the elections. Our Prime Minister has been kind enough to accompany us on this important day. He has always been on the side of the private sector, entrepreneurs and our country. He has answered our invitation today to feel as you do, the valued delegates in this hall.

People forget. That is why, to appreciate where we are today, we must from time to time remember the past. To judge how far we’ve come.

I would like you to know that we, the business community, have not forgotten the past. The troubles this country underwent on the difficulties we lived through during the beginning of the 2000s are still in our memories.

That is why we appreciate the value of today more so than anyone else.

The greatest factor in Turkey’s growth in the last ten years has been the stability of the country.

The reforms which you enacted by consulting with us have been the driving force behind Turkey.

That is why I, once again, heartily thank you for this approach.”

-The success story of the Turkish private sector

Hisarcıklıoğlu, stating how the Turkish private sector has proven itself to the world, expressed that they have written out a great success story.

“Our private sector continued to produce, work, buy and sell in the midst of the global crisis; it succeeded in growing the country’s economy. The people in this hall are the primary representatives of the Turkish private sector which achieved this.

The people in this hall represent the Turkish private sector in 81 provinces and 160 counties. The people in this hall represent 1.5 million entrepreneurs in Turkey.

The people in this hall provide employment to 14 million people. The people in this hall produce 75% of the country’s income, invest 130 billion USD and export goods amounting to 152 billion USD.

That is why I congratulate the delegates representing the Turkish private sector in this hall and thank them individually.

We can’t be too proud of people who work for the betterment of our country, our nation, for the ideal Turkey. We are blessed to have you!”

- “We are bursting out of Turkey”

Reporting that chambers and exchanges are bursting out of Turkey with their love for service, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that the whole world points to them as examples.

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said:

“The President of Kazakhstan, Nursultan Nazarbayev invited us to his country in order to benefit from our experience. All Islamic countries want to know how we have organized the private sector. They all take our Chamber-Exchanges system as an example.

Abroad, they say that if you want your private sector to develop; if you want capital to spread to the base, you must establish a Chamber-Exchange system similar to the one in Turkey.

Those who hold this honor, this proud success are the ones in this hall. This has all happened thanks to you. Bless your minds, efforts and hearts. Allah bless you.

Our Chamber and Exchange community is the incarnation of our 900 year old Akhism and lodge tradition in today’s world.

The people you see in this hall are the tradesmen who have brought the Akhism tradition inheritance from our ancestors to the 21st century.

900 years ago, chamberlains acted as the chamber presidents do today. Our infrastructure still functions on the same tenets of that time, even to this day. Membership in the Akhism organization was mandatory then as it is today. Chamber councils were called Stewards’ Council. The rules and standards of the profession were decided by the council, just like today.

The Akhis listened to the problems of all professions and sectors, brought solution suggestions to the government; today, Chambers and Exchanges shoulder the same duty.

Those present in this hall continue this year 900 tradition, saying, ‘True prosperity is not plentiful possessions, it is a content heart.’ Hopefully they will continue to do so.”

- Full marks in democracy

Stating that TOBB members have received full marks for democracy, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “These people have rightfully shouldered the duty of representing the Turkish private sector. They have been elected by the traders and industrialists from all over Turkey. They’ve been elected by puny numbers but by receiving the votes of 500,000 people. In most of our 365 Chambers and Exchanges, there were more than a single candidate.”

Reporting that it was the first time that there was such competition in chamber and exchange election, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “This understanding of democracy brought great change along with it. 49% of the elected Presidents and 69% of delegates have been elected for the first time. Those present here today have arrived here through their strength at the ballot. I congratulate them once again.”

- “We are confident”

“The trust you and our government have put in us gives us great strength. We are confident, too! Now, we will work even more, produce more, provide more employment, invest and export more. Turkey will be among the top 10 economies by 2023. Our private sector will be a leader in this region. Along with our women entrepreneurs and young entrepreneurs, we believe this.

We have great goals. Turkey will be an economic giant not just in the region but the whole world.

The highest number of international entrepreneurs will be from Turkey. Turkish logisticians will carry the most goods. Turkish hotels will host the highest number of tourists. Turkish retailers will feed and clothe not just the people of Turkey but the whole world. Turkey will be the country which exports the highest number of industrial goods. Turkish goods will be preferred for their quality rather than their price. International investors will line up to form partnerships with Turkish companies. Every household in the world will use at least one Turkish product. Tomorrow, just as we did yesterday, we will work to make this country richer and its people more prosperous.

We believe this: Allah never wastes effort. May Allah preserve our unity and livelihood. May our path be ever open.”

- Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed the delegates

Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan addressed the delegates prior to the 69th General Assembly of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB).

Extending his well wishes for the General Assembly to TOBB, Erdoğan said, “I pray to Allah that the 69th General Assembly will prove fortuitous for TOBB, our economy, our country and our democracy. I’ve always made great efforts to attend TOBB’s General Assemblies. However, due to the Supreme Military Council which will take place tomorrow, I will be unable to attend the opening of your General Assembly.

Expressing his wish that the month of Ramadan, which will be ending soon, will provide blessings for the whole country and Islamic world and that the atmosphere of peace, brotherhood and solidarity will last until the next Ramadan, Erdoğan said, “I pray to Allah that the Qadr Night and the following Ramadan Holiday will bring blessings upon you, us, your families, all of Turkey and humanity.”

Erdoğan said that TOBB’s General Assemblies indicate the pulse of Turkey’s economy clearly for all to see and went on:

“You are, in fact, the best judge of Turkey’s real agenda, change and transformation in 81 provinces closely. We greatly value your opinions, suggestions and criticism as the government. We have been in conference with NGOs like TOBB at every step of our terms in the last 10.5 years. I can say with a clear conscience that in every success enjoyed by Turkey, every record it breaks, you’ve contributed to it and expended your efforts.

I extend my gratitude to you for carrying Turkey forward with its democracy and economy; for bringing Turkey to this level with the investments and exports you’ve made and the taxes you’ve given on behalf of myself, my country and my nation.”

Stating that during the last 10.5 years, Turkey’s economy has grown from 230 billion USD to 786 billion USD while per capita income has increased from 3,500 USD to 10,500 USD; exports have increased from 36 billion USD to 152.5 billion USD; total investments have increased to 288 billion TL from 59 billion TL, PM Erdoğan said, “Loan interests in Turkey were around 63% - we’ve lowered that to a record 6%; Central Bank reserves have increased from 27.5 billion USD to 121 billion USD.

When we came to office, our debt to the International Monetary Fund was 23.5 billion USD. We paid the last installment of this debt on May 14th and ended the debt after a very long time. In fact, we will be lending 5 billion USD to the IMF.

If we comprised even in the smallest, we wouldn’t have been able to grow Turkey to thrice its size. If we had shown the slightest weakness in the face of the challenges to justice and against all provocations, traps and attacks, we would not have been able to make turkey into one of the shining stars of the world."

PM Erdoğan stated that the slightest regression in justice, human rights and freedoms, national peace, brotherhood and the atmosphere of stability and trust would directly effect economy and the country, and that they had reached the present state only through hardship.

Stating that TOBB has done its part in regards to democratic sensitivities, PM Erdoğan said that although everyone might not support and like them, they have always strived to act as the government of the whole 76 million, to enact policy which would please the whole country. While it is impossible to please 100% of the population, they have never discriminated and have worked with good intentions.

In regards to discrimination, PM Erdoğan said, “Just as we have stood at an equal distance to all individuals of the 76 million, we have stood at an equal distance to every institution in the business world. We will come down on anyone who resorts to lawlessness.”

Stating that 2023 is an important goal for them, Prime Minister Erdoğan said, “We want to build Turkey together to be one of the top 10 countries in the world. Allah willing, we will achieve this goal. Allah willing and with the support of our nation we can overcome any problem and take Turkey further.”

Expressing his well wishes for the 69th General Assembly, Erdoğan said, “I would like to thank TOBB which we have worked together in harmony, consulted with and made Turkey greater with and to state explicitly that we will increase and advance our cooperation in the future as well.”

Also attending the meeting were Prime Minister Deputies Bülent Arınç, Beşir Atalay and Ali Babacan, Science, Industry and Technology Nihat Ergün, Foreign Affairs Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu, Economy Minister Zafer Çağlayan, Customs and Commerce Minister Hayati Yazıcı and State Minister Muammer Güler.

Customs and Commerce Minister Hayati Yazıcı stated that “Our government, ministries, public offices and institutions have paved the way in regards to legislation.”

Minister Yazıcı stated that they are fighting tooth and nail to facilitate the operation of the business world, tradesmen and traders and to increase their competitive power.

- TOBB’s iftar

Many guests from the political, business and civil communities attended the iftar supper held prior to TOBB’s 69th General Assembly.

The iftar hosted by TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu at the TOBB Twin Towers was attended by TBMM Speaker Cemil Çiçek, Prime Minister Deputies Bülent Arınç and Ali Babacan, Economy Minister Zafer Çağlayan, Justice Minister Sadullah Ergin, Customs and Commerce Minister Hayati Yazıcı, Science, Industry and Technology Minister Nihat Ergün, Labol and Social Security Minister Faruk Çelik, Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yıldız.,

Attending the iftar supper were AK Party Vice President Numan Kurtulmuş, many businessmen, bureaucrats, chamber presidents, TOBB delegates, NGO representatives and various guests.

- Sycamore tree from the PM Erdoğan for TOBB’s garden

Prior to the speeches, Prime Minister Erdoğan and the Ministers accompanying him planted a sycamore tree in TOBB’s garden to commemorate the 69th General Assembly.