Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu attended the Provincial Chamber-Exchange Consultation Meeting held in Afyon. Attending the meeting were TOBB Board Vice President Faik Yavuz, TOBB Board Member Harun Karacan, Afyonkarahisar Commerce and Industry Chamber Ticaret ve Sanayi Odası, Commodity Exchange and presidents of the chambers and exchanges from the surrounding counties and provinces as well as many businessmen.

In his speech, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said: “We have great goals for Turkey. However, in today’s world, it is difficult to have your decisions made in central areas be carried out in the periphery. There must be local goals. We must set ourselves local goals and work towards them.” Reminding that the number of entrepreneurs in Afyon has risen from 111 in 2002 to 213 in 2012, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “You need to increase this number to 500.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu spoke: “Afyon has increased its exports from 55 million in 2002 to 314 million USD in 2012. You need to increase exports to 1 billion USD. Afyon can do this. Afyon is truly blessed. 1.2% of the 9.3 billion USD global marble markets is traded from in Afyon. It is expected that the market volume will increase to 25 billion USD by 2023. If Afyon can increase its market share to 2%, that’s 500 million USD from marble. As the bosses of the Afyon economy for the next 4 years, you must cultivate such opportunities like this.”

- May the elections be propitious

Expressing his wish that the chamber and exchange elections be propitious for the whole community, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that chambers and exchanges are the most democratic institutions in Turkey. He also briefed businessmen on the work of TOBB.

- Afyon TSO and Afyon TB visits

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu visited the Afyon Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chamber (TSO) President Hüsnü Serteser and the Afyon Commodity Exchange President Mehmet Mühsürler at their offices as a part of his Afyon visit.