Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

The TOBB President, expressing his happiness to be in Karabük, said that they are in Karabük for two propitious deeds: The opening of Karabük University TOBB Technical Sciences Vocational School and to discuss the economic future of Karabük.

Referring to the mobilization of employment initiated last year, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “This is the pride and joy of the Turkish private sector. Last year we accomplished something not previously done by any country in the world before. We achieved more employment than Germany, France, Italy, UK in one year. 1.5 million people found new jobs last year. If we know how to be a martyr for these lands, we also know how to put everything aside and work diligently in accordance with the mobilization when the call comes.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the Filyos Port Project is especially important for Karabük, “This is our closest port transportation, and Filyos Port will contribute greatly to both export and import. Steel is important for us and Karabük. The US stated that it would put 25% additional customs tax on imported steel. This concerns us greatly. It may cause trouble for a world steel producer like us. We are the 10^th biggest steel producer in the world. It is imperative that we find a solution to this. It will not do if every country adopts a protectionist attitude like this; all the wars in the world have their causes in economy. First, this is the reason for the emergence of the Second World War. We do not have a difference of opinion as the global business community, these kinds of populist stunts which purport to protect the steelworkers in their own country can only cause global trouble.”

Former Council Chairman and the AK Party Karabük Parliamentary Representative Mehmet Ali Şahin, referring to Turkey's economic power, stated that the only thing making Operation Olive Branch is this power. Sahin said, “We are fighting there to protect our borders with our military. For our army and police to be able to defend the country, the economy must be strong; a country with a weak economy cannot fight the fight that Turkey has found found itself in.”

Following the speeches, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu, Former Council Chairman and the AK Party Karabük Parliamentary Representative Mehmet Ali Şahin, Karabük Governor Kemal Çeber, Karabük CCI Chair Tuncay Özcan, Karabük University President (KBU) Refik Polat, Kardemir Inc. Co. Board Member Kamil Güleç, chamber chairs and businessmen, conducted the opening of the vocational high school.

TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu visited the booths opened by the Producer Hands Women's Cooperative, headed by Nuray Alpboğa, Zonguldak Women Entrepreneurs Council Chair. Alpboğa informed Hisarcıklıoğlu about the cooperative, stating that the cooperative founded in 2016 has members 400 and that an average monthly sale of 5,000TRY is conducted.