Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Hisarcıklıoğlu, spoke to an Anadolu Agency correspondent, in regards to January 26^th World Customs Day about the activities of TOBB.

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they first assumed responsibility for the modernization of the İpsala Customs Gate in 2002, and then continued their modernization efforts with the “Build-Operate-Transfer” model through the Customs and Tourism Enterprises Co. Inc. which is a subsidiary established by TOBB in partnership with 137 Chambers and Commodity Exchanges in 2005.

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Customs and Tourism Enterprises Co. Inc. started its activities in 2005 with the modernization of Habur Border Gate followed by Cilvegözü, Hamzabeyli, Kapıkule, Nusaybin, Esendere, Çıldır-Aktaş, Dilucu and the Muratbey Customs Directorate, formerly known as Halkalı, make up the 9 facilities which have so far been modernized.

Pointing to the completion of the modernization of 10 customs gates in total to date, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that the number will reach 11 with the completion of the Kapıköy Customs Gate modernization.

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that besides the modernization of the customs gates, 2 truck park facilities were opened by Customs and Tourism Enterprises Co. Inc. in order to serve the Kapıkule and Hamzabeyli customs gates. “Administrative and commercial buildings in all facilities, entry-exit control units, search hangars, contraband warehouses, platforms, scales, social facilities, truck parking areas, X-ray vehicle scanning facilities, card access, closed circuit camera and security systems were built to the most modern standards. For the use of passengers and truck drivers, areas such as restaurants, grocery stores, toilets and duty-free shops have also been established.”

- “Services provided to 5.5 million vehicles and 19 million passengers”

Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out that GTİ Co. Inc. has invested more than 500 million USD in the facilities it has modernized so far, and it has spent more than 20 million USD on maintenance, lighting and operational expenses of customs facilities annually.

Underlining the fact that GTİ Co. Inc. undertakes the high financing burden of modernization projects and creates additional employment and extra tax revenue, Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that the company contributes to the development of foreign trade by increasing the efficiency of customs gates. Pointing at the modernized border gates, wait times which have been decreased to minutes from hours, Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that 5.5 million vehicles and 19 million passengers were provided services last year.

Hisarcıklıoğlu said that customs should be constantly renewed according to the changing legislation and practices of parties, stating that they aim to relieve the flow of traffic at customs gates, accelerate processing times, provide services at international standards, improve the image of border crossings in a positive way and promote the country in the best way possible.

Reporting that the busiest port for Turkey's TIR traffic is the Habur Customs Gate modernized by GTI Co. Inc. in 2006 and that, last year, over 1 million trucks have made use of the facility, and that Kapıkule Customs Gate has provided services to over 6 million passengers annually.

- “Sarp and Kapıköy Customs Gates will be opened”

Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that they’ve received requests to increase capacity for the Sarp Customs gate opened in 2009 in parallel with the increased passenger and vehicle traffic due to passage between Turkey and Georgia becoming available with only the presentation of valid ID, “To this end, existing projects have been revised, and the construction of a new customs gate has started. Kapıköy Customs Gate, which will contribute positively to the increasing trade with renewed Sarp Customs Gate and Iran, is planned to be opened as well. The agreement for the modernization of the İpsala Customs Gate was also signed at the end of last year; we will renew this gate as soon as possible and open it for operation.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu underlined that the Ministry of Commerce has made great progress in the last 10 years in terms of digitization and adaptation to the digital era; that, thanks to digitization, many foreign trade transactions have been rendered, minimizing the level of bureaucracy at customs.

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that with the “on-site customs clearance” application, companies could complete their customs clearance procedures at their warehouses without having to go through domestic customs. Thus, there is positive contribution to foreign trade in terms of time and cost. Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the data sharing conducted by the Trade Ministry with other public institutions and establishments have made it possible to conduct many operations can be completed via the single desk application at customs.