Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Bekir Pakdemirli and TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu signed the “IPARD Project Preparation Cooperation and Training Protocol,” at the TOBB Twin Towers.

Hisarcıklıoğlu, in his speech at the ceremony, drew attention to Turkey's potential in agriculture, noting that production volume of the sector has reached 50 billion USD.

Stating that agriculture is a net foreign currency earning sector for Turkey, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “In 2018, against about 10 billion USD in imports, we exported 17 billion USD of goods from this sector but we have a long way to go. World agricultural products imports total 1.7 trillion dollars. Here, our share is only 1% of that. Therefore, we should prepare our agriculture sector for global competition just like the industrial sector.”

Emphasizing the need for the development of new policies in agriculture, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the importance of IPARD supports becomes apparent at this point.

Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We are benefiting from these supports in our agriculture and animal husbandry sectors. We provide 75% of IPARD support from EU funds. Since 2011, 14,500 projects have been supported by IPARD support in 42 provinces. 3.8 billion TRY has been provided in grants while 10 billion TRY has been invested and 60,000 people were employed. As a result of the positive negotiations of the EU Commission and our Ministry, I believe that similar figures will be achieved in the upcoming period.”

Stating that when he took office in 2001, he recalled that there were no chambers and commodity exchanges capable of preparing projects, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that today's chambers and exchanges have become project factories and that these members will reach the point where their members can now create their own projects as well.

- “We're doing our part”

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that thanks to the “Applied Project Writing Training,” which will be coordinated with the Ministry of Agriculture and Forestry, will train chamber and exchange personnel in IPARD project preparation:

“As TOBB, we are doing our part to ensure that our members are benefiting from IPARD support through our 77 commodity exchanges and chambers of commerce where commodity exchanges are unavailable. We care greatly about the widespread utilization of the IPARD Program by our members.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that they will cover this issue within the scope of professional competence via the TOBB Vocational Qualification and Certification Center (YET-MER), increasing the efficiency in agriculture and animal husbandry.

- The Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Pakdemirli

Minister of Agriculture and Forestry Bekir Pakdemirli stated that investors can prepare their projects free of charge in the 42 provinces in which the European Union (EU) Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance-Rural Development Program (IPARD) is implemented through TOBB's chambers and exchanges free of charge.

Pakdemirli explained that IPARD, the EU's rural development grants, constitutes an important and effective pillar of the EU process and said that they are cooperating with TOBB for the more effective use of IPARD grants granted by the Agriculture and Rural Development Support Agency (TKDK).

Pakdemirli emphasized that the protocol, which will provide an important convenience and alternative to investors, means that projects under IPARD can now be prepared free of charge. “Thanks to this protocol, investors will be able to prepare their projects free of charge through the chambers and exchanges within the TOBB, in 42 provinces where IPARD is implemented.”

- “Training of chambers and exchanges”

Pakdemirli pointed out investors would pay their consultancy support from the TKDK to the chamber and commodity exchanges that prepare the project if and when the project is accepted, and they would not need to pay if the project does not qualify as a part of the TKDK evaluation process.

“TKDK continues to support investments in 16 different sub-sectors. Although it varies according to the sector, it provides between 40% and 70% grants. Under the IPARD program, we have provided a total of 14,500 projects with 3.8 billion TRY in the last 7 years. 10 billion TRY was invested into rural regions and 60,000 new jobs were created.”

Pakdemirli reminded that there is tax exemption in IPARD investments and they contribute to the development of many sectors with the effect of these grants, machinery and equipment are supplied from local, construction works are provided from local suppliers.

Pakdemirli also pointed out that they have been engaging in affirmative action in regards to women and youth as a part of IPARD and said, “We give additional points to our women in their projects and give priority in ranking. As well as national resources, we continue to support rural development, and we will continue to support the development of rural development in 39 provinces with the support of the nationally funded Rural Development Investments Program as well as in 39 provinces not covered by IPARD. We will continue to contribute to the growth of our country.”

Following the speeches, the protocol signed by Minister Pakdemirli and TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu will provide the investors with the opportunity to prepare a free project for IPARD incentives provided by TKDK.