Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Stating that they decided to organize Council Members Information Seminars after the 2013 chamber / commodity exchange elections, Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that a 4.8 out of 5 satisfaction rate has been achieved in regards to the seminars. In this context, Council Members Information Seminars have been renewed for 2018.

Stating that they have been going through a difficult period since August 2018, Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that they’ve held 7 regional meetings with 365 chamber / exchange presidents, listening to their problems. Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the demands and problems of the Chambers and Commodity Exchanges were relayed to all the ministers, as well as to the President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Hisarcıklıoğlu drawing attention to the two recent important meetings held, the first of which is the TOBB Turkey Economy Summit with the participation of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in which problems were directly relayed to President Erdoğan and relevant ministers. The second being the TOBB Turkey Sectoral Economy Council in which the issues facing all sectors were relayed to the government.

Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that TOBB and Chambers / Commodity Exchanges' task is to bring together the members of the problem-solving group and the institutions that will solve the problem.

Stating that they’ve also met with the Turkey Banks Union in order to solve their problems with banks, Hisarcıklıoğlu said they held 16 regional meeting, holding individual meetings with approximately 9,000 people, providing solutions to 97% of problems reported by them.

Noting that the March 31^st local elections are over and there are no elections for 4.5 years, the TOBB President said that it is time to focus on the economy.

Touching on the banking system, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that interest rates will not fall before the fall in inflation and that the savings in the banks are very low and that there is a need for a reform in the banking sector.

- Two important trends

Speaking in regards to two imp important trends in the world, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that every year the world's population grows by twice the size Turkey’s population; stating that currently 2 billion people are in the middle-income class, “Urbanization is on the rise and along with it, the level of prosperity. As they leave the rural spaces behind, the demand for consumption increases. This actually shows why there is a need for those who you represent. Infrastructure, production and distribution systems are necessary to meet this demand. Traders, industrialists and the agricultural sector will be more important all over the world in the coming period.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the second important trend is the competition of cities. Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “When you go abroad and talk about Turkey they talk about Antalya or Istanbul. Cities all over the world now come to the fore. It is a race between cities. You are the opinion leaders of the city. There is only one solution to the development and enrichment of the city and it is the private sector. You will be the ones who will determine the route in the coming period.”

“The most beneficent of people are those beneficent unto others,” said the TOBB President and went on, “You are at a position to benefit others. If you can provide employment and livelihood to another, bless you. Know the value of this well.”