Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Attending the Şanlıurfa Geographical Sign Registry Ceremony hosted by the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) Chair İsmail Demirkol were TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Şanlıurfa Parliamentarian and Former Minister Faruk Çelik, Former Minister Kutbettin Arzu, Governor of Şanlıurfa Abdullah Erin, Chairman of Turkey Patent Institute Prof. Dr. Habip Asan and many guests. Speaking in the ceremony, TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu indicated that Şanlıurfa is ranked first in geographical markers in Turkey and said, “Şanlıurfa Chamber of Commerce has contributed a large share of effort to this success. Our Chamber had already registered 4 products, today 13 products have also been registered. The applications made for other seven products are under investigations. Among 365 Chambers and Commodity Exchanges, Şanlıurfa Chamber of Commerce is the champion. It has registered two times more products than the one ranked 2^nd. Thanks to the Chairman of the Chamber, the master of community, Honorable İsmail Demirkol. Under his leadership, our Chamber is achieving great things. I am proud of him; I am proud to have such a president.”

Pointing out that Şanlıurfa's great fortune is to have a Commodity Exchange paving the way for manufacturers and providing a great deal of support, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Mr. Mehmet Kaya has achieved much for Urfa. First, he built a modern service building that befits Urfa; prepared sample projects on licensed warehouses in Turkey. He built Grain Licensed Warehouse and Cotton Licensed Warehouse, enabling manufacturers of Urfa to earn more. We also benefit from Mehmet Kaya's knowledge and experience in Ankara. This is how our chambers – commodity exchanges work for their cities, for your wealth and how they invest. I would like to thank Şanlıurfa, and you, that brought such hardworking and successful Presidents of the Chamber of Commodity Exchange to our community and country.”

- What will the geographical markers provide?

Stating about what geographical markers would provide, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu noted that the geographical markers mean branding first, and then better products, culminating in increased profits. Pointing out that when the geographical marker for a product is registered in Europe, the price increases by 20 to 50%, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “But it is not just about making money. It is also our duty to preserve the miracle left to us by our ancestors. We have to hand down these treasures to our grandchildren with the same quality. All of these products are ours as long as we protect them. They will disappear if we do not.”

- We must preserve our wealth

TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out that there is a unique cheese in each district of Turkey; but when we say “cheese,” France comes to mind or when we say “tulip,” the Netherlands comes to mind.

Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “The homeland of the tulip is Turkey, but the Netherlands adopted tulips. Now they earn 1bn EUR per year from them. Greece is attempting to brand our baklava, our coffee and yoghurt as theirs. Yet our greatest wealth is our cultural wealth. If we have them, they mean money and wealth. So we need to get geographical markers to lay claim to our local products.

Then it comes to registering them in Europe. Currently only 3 products; Malatya’s apricot, Aydın’s fig and Antep’s Baklava are registered with the European Union. It is again our Chambers – Commodity Exchanges in these provinces which had them registered. I hope this number will increase soon. We have given and we will give all our support via the TOBB Brussels office. Now, it is time to register the products of Urfa in Europe. In all these beautiful developments in the area of ​​geographical markers, our Chambers - our Commodity Exchanges have expended great effort. As TOBB, we take on the responsibility. Our Chambers – Commodity Exchanges did their share. Thanks to them, geographical marker registration has gained speed. Our government leads and supports us. I hope that geographical markers will be beneficial to Urfa and you. May Allah grace those who contributed.”