Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

At the meeting held closed to the press and presided over by TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and TBB President Hüseyin Aydın, international markets and recent developments in Turkey's economy, the money will be assessed and recommendations, in addition to the latest situation in the capital markets and expectations were discussed.

Before the meeting, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the TBB and TOBB jointly held joint meetings in Istanbul and the second in Denizli yesterday, and Konya is the third being held.

Stating that with the meetings, real sector and finance sector will understand each other better and develop common solutions, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We will overcome this troubled process by working together. The finance sector is the veins which provide blood flow to the real sector and SMEs. So one cannot be expected to be in good condition while the other is in bad condition. Both sectors need to be strengthened at this juncture.”

Expressing that they conveyed their suggestions to the government, TOBB President said, “Thanks to President Hüseyin Aydın, thanks to his great efforts, our banks started to offer new opportunities to the real sector. Of course, besides all these, other measures are required. It is vital that the real sector, and especially SMEs, have access to financing. I see that public banks are more active in this regard and I would like to thank them also.”

Stating that they are aware that the real sector and the financial sector are on the same boat, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We have to act together and support each other. There also have been positive developments in the economy recently. Foreign trade figures indicate that there is a stabilization in the foreign exchange income-expenditure situation. However, the revival in the economy is not yet at the point we want. In this regard, the tax deduction demands from our Chambers and Commodity Exchanges, which we conveyed to the government, were realized. Our government has taken the first step. These measures boosted the market and supported trade.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu said that they believe that all this turmoil is temporary and that Turkey has solid foundations.

While passing through this process, Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out that the trade, production and employment capacity of producers, traders and industrialists should be preserved, “I have never been pessimistic, and I am not now. In the last 25 years, we have experienced dozens of crises and turbulences, both internally and externally. We've overcome them all and continued on. All we need to do is maintain hope. Let's keep our ranks tight.”

- “We are on the same boat as the financial sector and real sector”

Chairman of the Board of the Turkey Banks Union Hüseyin Aydın said, “The financial sector and the real sector are on the same boat. Numerous arrangements were made. We made the decisions in principle, we made legal arrangements as the Turkey Banks Union. We will discuss the practical applications of these one by one and we will discuss this endeavor with the questions and answers in the capital of SMEs, Konya. We'll go around the country. We always underline one thing; it is human to make mistakes. But ultimately we all have a goal, to raise the country's score, to contribute to the country. As the financial sector, as the banking sector, we will continue to contribute all efforts towards this goal.”