Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Attending the ceremony in addition to TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu were Customs and Commerce Minister Hayati Yazıcı, Culture and Tourism Minister Ömer Çelik, Adana Governor Hüseyin Avni Coş, Greater Adana Municipality Director Zihni Aldırmaz, Adana Representatives to the National Assembly, regional chamber/exchange presidents as well as many guests.

TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu called for unity and solidarity during his speech. Showing Gaziantep as an example for unity, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “They think differently but you will not hear dissenting voices. They move in unison. If we can put our differences in the melting pot, grace and prosperity will come. This is what Adana needs to do.”

Stating that he had come to Adana to convey his well wishes to Minister Çelik, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that Ömer Çelik, who he had known for 20 years, will make great advances in Turkey’s culture and tourism fields in a very short time.

Touching on the authorized incumbent system, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said that the project would provide great support for exporters. Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “There is longer a wait time at the customs. No bureaucracy. Everyone can send their forms online and export their goods. Just like we can get flight cards without getting on a place via authorized incumbent, exporters can check-in at their own place and send their goods. This means that wait time in export procedures has been reduced.”

Reminding that they have been modernizing the land customs gates, Hisarcıklıoğlu went on: “As a result of this modernization the wait times will be halved. The money saved by the Turkish private sector is 410 million TL. That is how much we save as a result of the efforts of the Minister and TOBB.”

Stating that the NACE system is revolutionary, the TOBB President said, “We didn’t know how many shoe makers there were. Now, thanks to NACE, we do. There was no possibility of taking a commerce industry inventory until today; with NACE we will be able to take an inventory of industry and commerce. This will aid us in matching demands, incentives and many different fields.”

Explaining that they’ve solved the issue regarding checks, Hisarcıklıoğlu expressed that they want sanctions other than prison sentences for dishonored checks. With the new application those accepting checks will be able to, with permission, review the debt record of the people they are accepting checks from.

Touching on the request of the Adana chamber/exchange presidents for a school, Hisarcıklıoğlu promised a school for Adana.

Reminding that Adana Chamber of Commerce (TO), Chamber of Industry (SO) and Commodity Exchange (TB) were some of the first accredited chambers and exchanges in Turkey, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “The TO, SO and TB in Adana are among the 5-star chambers. They provide services on the standards of the ones to be found in EU countries.”

- Culture and Tourism Minister Çelik

Culture and Tourism Minister Ömer Çelik stressed that productive people take risks and put forth their works. Çelik said, “We must answer the expectations of the people living in these lands. Nobody can say that our democracy and economy are worse than they were 10 years ago. We are working to develop Adana in regards to tourism and make its cultural heritage into a center of attraction.”

- Customs and Commerce Minister Yazıcı

Customs and Commerce Minister Hayati Yazıcı stated that Turkey is developing with a high tempo. Relating how they have taken entrepreneurs to the four corners of the world, Yazıcı emphasized that if they had not done this Turkey would not have the economic success it enjoys today.

- Adana Chamber of Industry President Sadi Sürenkök

Speaking on behalf of the Adana SO, TO and TB, Adana Chamber of Industry President Sadi Sürenkök, emphasizing that they are in a four hour’s flight away from Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Africa countries which amount to 60% of the world market, said, “This is an important opportunity for the country and the Çukurova region in economic development.”