Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

 

After informing them about the TOBB’s history and structure, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that their most important objective was to enrich the 72 million Turkish people. TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu, emphasizing that enrichment was solely linked to trading and economic activity, said “Oil and gas make rich the state, not the people. For people’s richness, you need trading and production.”   

 

Noting that every year 800.000 youngsters enter employment markets, Hisarcıklıoğlu said “Turkey must find jobs for these 800.000 people. This is a tough issue. This could be possible only through the private sector and entrepreneurship. Increased public employment will bring an additional burden on the people. To meet the cost of additional public employment either the taxes will be increased or loans will be taken from abroad.” 

 

- We must aim at reaching the EU level

 

After reviewing how the EU was created, Hisarcıklıoğlu said the EU was the highest standards human beings have found in terms of regulating the relationship between the state and the citizen, and the best form of government in favor the citizen.

 

Stating that he is expected to have the same rights that an EU citizen as an individual has, Hisarcıklıoğlu said “I support the EU process. Also in terms of doing business, the highest Standard is again there – with its ease to do business and the perspective that it gives to its employees.”

 

Saying that Turkey’s objective must be to reach these standars, Hisarcıklıoğlu continued “Whether they will accept us or not is not important. It’s important to reach that level. They gave us the roadmap to reach that level.”

 

- Non-entrepreneur countries will collapse

 

Mentioning the significance of entrepreneurship, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that non-entrepreneur countries are doomed to collapse. Pointing out that one did not need money to become entrpreneur, Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that we must increase the number of entrepreneurs for the richness of the people.

 

- Your objective is to place Turkey within Top 10 economies in the world by 2023

 

Hisarcıklıoğlu, stating that Turkey was number 27 economy in the world in the 1980’s, said “In those years Saudi Arabia and Greece were richer than Turkey. Our generation made this country to number 16 economy of the world. Now Saudi Arabia and Greece can together find Turkey. Exports increased from USD 3 billion at that time to USD 132 billion today. And 92 % of them are industrial goods.”

 

Hisarcıklıoğlu told the student that they must aim to place Turkey within Top 10 economies of the world by 2023, saying “Therefore you must work hard. Never quit working.” 

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