Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

As part of the Sakarya Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s (SATSO) 90^th anniversary celebration, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Turkish Presidential Secretary General Mustafa İsen, Türk-İş General Director Ergun Atalay, Sakarya Governor Mustafa Büyük and Sakarya Greater Municipality Director Zeki Toçoğlu attended the Stars of Sakarya Awards Ceremony held at the Sakarya Sports Hall.

Stating that Sakarya is generating prosperity all around, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Praise all, you have everything. Your prosperity is the prosperity of the 76 million.”

Pointing out that the world underwent one of its largest crises in 2008, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “In Europe, 6 million people lost their jobs while Sakarya increased its employment rate by 46%. It increased employment of women by 73%. I congratulate you.”

Addressing the youth in the hall, the TOBB President said, “It is impossible to prosper without entrepreneurs. My suggestion to you is to become entrepreneurs. The most beneficent of men is he who is beneficent to others. You must provide sustenance and employment. You can do this through employment.”

Drawing attention to the need for increasing the number of woman entrepreneurs, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “I would issue a call to our woman entrepreneurs. Raise your daughters as entrepreneurs. Our ratio of woman entrepreneurs is only 4%.

As Muslims, we follow the example of our prophet. Do we tread the same path as our prophet? No, we do not. The wife of our prophet, Blessed Hadija was a great entrepreneur. If we want Turkey to be prosperous, we must increase the number of entrepreneurs. As unity begets grace, Sakarya will be a locomotive for Turkey in the future.”

Turkish Presidential Secretary General Mustafa İsen spoke on how Sakarya has been the shining star of Turkey in recent years.

Stating that Turkey is growing rapidly in agriculture, industry, education, culture and tourism, İsen said that institutions like SATSO would draw much attention to themselves while effecting the status of the city in the coming years.”

SATSO Board President Mahmut Kösemusul emphasized that Sakarya is a geography of love and fraternity, populated by industrious, hardworking traders and craftsmen.

Stating that they also put great importance of education as well as providing employment to thousands of people, Kösemusul reported that SATSO would build an Industry Vocational High School while TOBB will be building a Girls’ Vocational High School.

After the speeches, 16 people were presented with Stars of Sakarya Awards.