Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

TOBB delegates who completed their 10^th and 20^th years of service, as well as families of those Chamber and Exchange Presidents who passed on since the last elections as well as former TOBB President Ali Coşkun were presented with Service Honor Certificates and Plaques. Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım, CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, MHP Deputy Chairman Emin Haluk Ayhan, Minister of Customs and Trade Bülent Tüfenkci, Minister of Economy Nihat Zeybekci, Minister of Labor and Social Security Mehmet Müezzinoğlu, Minister of Labor and Social Security, AK Party Deputy Chairman Hayati Yazıcı, Former Speaker of the Grand National Assembly of Turkey Cemil Çiçek, parliamentary representatives and TOBB delegates attended the ceremony.

TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu thanked Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım for the opportunity to gather the whole of Turkey together and listen to the problems of the business community for hours with his cabinet.

Hisarcıklıoğlu also stated that while many regulations closely related to the business world are passing through the council, he extending his gratitude to the Republican People's Party Chairman Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu and the Nationalist Movement Party Chairman Devlet Bahçeli and the National Assembly, political parties, the commissioners and all the members of the parliament for their efforts to solve the problems of the Turkish business community.

Stating that they are together on this day to honor the members of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges, the TOBB President said, “Through their efforts, our capacity for institutional service has improved every year. Our Chambers and Commodity Exchanges have become the main service centers of our real sector. As a result, our country has more investment, production, export and employment.

All of this was achieved through unity of effort, spirit and mind. Because of its great service to this community and our country's economy. For their great services to this community and our country, TOBB delegates who have completed their 10^th and 20^th years of service, as well as families of those Chamber and Exchange Presidents who passed on since the last elections as well as former TOBB President Ali Coşkun will be presented with Service Honor Certificates and Plaques. We will always remember the labor of these precious people with gratitude and appreciation. May Allah grant that continued success to those who labor and who toil with sweat on their brow and set their minds to task for this country.”

- Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım

In his speech, Prime Minister Binali Yıldırım addressed the business community and said, “You have not allowed the treacherous coup attempt to halt the gears of the economy. You’ve shown your stance. It is gratifying to see that the Union of Chambers and the Commodity Exchanges of Turkey does not shirk from sacrifice, producing more and taking risks.”

Stating that they are aware of the value TOBB members add value to the economy as the government, Yıldırım stated that they are providing “respite credit” for SMEs in partnership with the business community and said:

“As a part of this opportunity, 27,000 SMEs have been provided with over 5 billion liras in a short time. We always put great importance on consultation as the government. In meeting with you, we renew our unity and solidarity. In my time as minister as well prime minister, I have always stood by and supported those who produce, create jobs and generate added value; our service sector and trade community. You know needs of the industrialists, tradesmen and the business community through firsthand experience. If you see a problem, do not hesitate to report this problem; you should share with us the suggestions for solutions to add value to our country. All suggestions from you, criticism and opinions are taken very seriously and we do what is necessary to address them. We’ve always put great importance on the common good and we have come a very long way thanks to this.”

- Customs and Commerce Minister Bülent Tüfenkci

Customs and Commerce Minister Bülent Tüfenkci stated that “They tried to halt democracy on June 7^th, they attempted a judiciary coup between the 17^th and 25^th of December; those who stayed silent in the face of the carried out attempted FETO coup on July 15^th; they cannot understand Turkey's fight for democracy. That is why we will go all the way for democracy and we will never give up.”

Tüfenkci attended the “Honorable Service Certificate and Plaque Ceremony” organized as a part of the 73^rd General Assembly of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB).

- CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu

CHP leader Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu said in his address, “If you accuse the newspapers Sözcü and Cumhuriyet of supporting FETÖ, you are rewarding the FETÖ. Are you still not aware of this? Let’s do what is right.”

Kılıçdaroğlu, stating that he will talk about the ways and strategies for Turkey to emerge from the difficult conditions it is in and stressed that there is a need for a new strategy in order to become a strong, respectable country in its region.