We are opening the gate to prosperity
18.10.2015 / Kars
In his speech during the opening of the Çıldır Aktaş Customs Gate modernized by the Customs and Tourism Enterprises Co. Inc., TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We’re not opening a customs gate today. Today, we are opening the gate to prosperity. In the past, this region was the richest in the world. That was because trade routes passed through here. The rule is simple: If there is trade, there is money. If there is money, there is prosperity. We have a grand dream. We dream of shifting the trade routes back to this region. That is what we are doing now.”
- This route will serve as Anatolia’s gateway to Central Asia
Stating that Adahan has much greater potential, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “A three hour drive away is Georgia and Azerbaijan with a population of 17 million and a market volume of 100 billion USD. This will serve as Anatolia’s gateway to Central Asia. Ardahan will prosper, Kars will prosper and Turkey will prosper. Georgia will prosper, Azerbaijan will prosper.
Bonds of friendship and political relations will be strengthened through trade. Çıldır Aktaş will be the meeting point of a region, we will prosper together.”
- Saving the government 725 million TRY
Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that the modernizations completed unto 10 customs gates to date have been conducted by the investments of the Chamber-Exchange community, totaling up to 725 million TRY, saving the government 725 million TRY.
Stating that with the taxes paid by GTİ Co. Inc. during this process, the amount gained by the government reaches 1 billion TRY, benefiting the state, private sector and members of the Union, Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that, due to shortened wait times, the private sector has saved 410 million TRY in freight costs.
- An example to the world
Stating that a project has been classified “Best Practice” by the United Nations, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that the modernization of Turkey’s customs gates has been held up as an example to the whole world as the best example of how to achieve the endeavor of modernizing customs gate facilities, “I thank you, the Chamber-Exchange presidents who contributed to this investment.”
- Other speakers
Customs and Commerce Minister Cenap Aşçı stated that the gates of a country hold a mirror to the whole, “That is why we are working to modernize all of our gates. We are working to build gates fitting of our people and those who visit us.”
Culture and Tourism Minister Yalçın Topçu emphasized the importance of security as well as speed in regards to customs procedures.
Georgian Minister of the Treasury Nodar Khaduri expressed his grief in regards to the terror attack which took place in Ankara went on to say, “I believe that this location will become a hub for commerce.”
Attending the opening were TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Customs and Commerce Minister Cenap Aşçı, Culture and Tourism Minister Yalçın Topçu, former Customs and Commerce Minister Hayati Yazıcı, Georgian Minister of the Treasury Nodar Khaduri, Ardahan Governor Ahmet Deniz, GTİ Co. Inc. Chair Arif Parmaksız as well as many chamber-exchange presidents and members of the public.
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