Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Hisarcıklıoğlu started by praying for the grace of Allah for our heroic martyred soldiers in Afrin's during the undergoing Operation Olive Branch. Stating that Artvin is Turkey's gateway to Asia and the Caucasus, he said, “Artvin is the sixth most habitable city in Turkey. The freshest air is in Artvin. After the famous Grand Canyon in America, the second deepest canyon of the world, the Hell Valley Canyon is here. Turkey's highest observation glass deck is here, at Hatila Valley National Park. Artvin had a dream 60 years ago. The Rize and Artvin-Ardahan road in Turkey's second longest double-tube tunnel, Cankurtaran Tunnel has been opened to traffic. Cankurtaran Tunnel and Artvin will become a logistics transit center as well as contributing to the development of tourism. The Rize-Artvin Airport, the second sea-fill airport in Turkey, will open in 2020. As TOBB, we are modernizing Sarp Border Gate. Our work is almost finished. Capacity will be doubled. I have also looked at the figures of Artvin. 2017 figures show that are active business (7%) and employee numbers (22%) and exports (35%), above national average. So, Artvin has dynamism in its economy.”

- Artvin must be classified as a 5^th incentive zone province

Stating that Artvin CCI is doing good works. TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “It has started an important work to protect the local products. First, they’ve taken geographical marker for Puccuko. This is Artvin's first geographical marker. I hope the future bring more. An important demand for Artvin by your chamber is the reclassification for investment zone. Currently zone 4 mainly because of dam investments. We expect Artvin to be at least zone 5. We support our venture's initiative in this regard. The initiative began by our chamber for the establishment of an OIZ in Artvin is about to come to fruition. Thus, you will increase both production and exports. Kurtul, my special brother, makes the sacrifice for the development and enrichment of Artvin, he labors. He is a part of the management of TOBTİM, the international trade company of TOBB. He is also the Vice President of Business Development Center ABİGEM, in Trabzon, responsible for Eastern Black Sea. With the Artvin chamber, we have taken 2 very important steps in online documents generation and one-stop-shop company establishment. All setup operations will take place in our chambers

We reduced the number of transactions from 7 to 1. We reduced the cost from TL 2,250 in advance to TL 650. That is how service is served to the member. From our Chairman to the Management, Assembly, Secretary General, Odamızdan and all his staff, please accept God. "

- What we do as TOBB

Hisarcıklıoğlu, in regards to what TOBB and the chambers community has been doing in the for the past year, underlined that they are doing very important things in financing. Stressing that that they provided 8 billion TRY to 290,000 companies with 9.9% interest under the Respite Credits, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that KOSGEB also provided loans to 290,000 companies with a 0-interest, 3-year maturity and that as Credit Guarantee Fund, they are guarantors for 364,000 companies for 221 billion TRY. TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that a total of 681,000 companies were reached in Turkey, with 234bn TRY provided in finances.

Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out that the cost employment is the most important complaint of the business world, and thanks to the mobilization of employment initiated to this end, the Turkish private sector has provided 1.5 million additional jobs. Hisarcıklıoğlu underlined the importance of incentives provided as a part of the employment mobilization. “The monthly minimum wage support of 100 TL will continue in 2018. When you hire someone, new premium and tax is covered by the state. You will only pay salary. So 1,600 TL is from you, 800 TL is tax + premium. Incentives will be in full force for 3 years. In the meantime, remember to request your retroactive incentives.”

The TOBB President, explaining that they are doing extensive studies in the Coordination Council for Improvement of Investment Environment with the Ministers in regards to the issues reported by the business community, said, “We are among the world's 20 largest economies, but we rank 60th in ease of business index. Why don’t people want to be entrepreneurs? There are many obstacles to doing business. We met with our government. You will see, in 2 years Turkey will be among the top 20 countries in ease of business index. The law which was passed yesterday was revolutionary for us. There 59 countries with easier company establishment, execution, bankruptcy, construction permits, title deeds, municipal applications, tax payments than us. Hopefully this will be the law to bring Turkey into the top 20. We will no longer have to wait on the government regarding VAT returns. 140 billion TRY will be paid to us in a certain schedule. We will be able request what we are owed from the government within 3 months from the day of the announcement the legislation. If not, the government will pay interest. This is a good deal for us. But first of all applaud our MPs. We will put our country among the top 10 economies.

Are there no problems at all? Of course there are. But we have the will and the power to overcome all of them. Look, we've made a lot of improvements by acting in unity and solidarity. Problems are not solved by fighting. It is solved by dialogue and common cause. Grace and prosperity in unity; anguish in dissent.”