Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

In his speech at the ceremony, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that are presenting awards to the finalists of the Chamber and Commodity Exchange project competition and the delegates who’ve been serving the community for a long time, “This is something we should be proud of. Our Chambers and Commodity Exchanges have become veritable project factories. Working, producing, bringing new works to their cities, providing more services to our members. Not just domestically, they're also flying our flag international. We have a large number of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges as well as women entrepreneurs at the ICC, at CACCI, creating award-winning projects. This is the result of your hard work. I'm proud of you all.”

- Chambers and commodity exchanges are developing

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that chambers and exchanges are the main service centers of the real sector and pointed out that the institutional service capacities of chambers and exchanges have increased and become an exemplary model for the world. Stating that they have realized the “Digital Chamber-Exchange” revolution and become a one-stop shops, the TOBB President said, “As our chambers and exchanges evolve, they provide better quality services to our private sector. They enable our companies to grow and open up to the international markets. We did all this through unity of hearts, minds and efforts. May Allah grant everlasting success to all who toil for good of this country. We are the modern day representatives of the ancient Akhi organization, who ‘wish only for patience and work with reason and morality.’’ Our struggle is to be worthy of this blessed legacy which our ancestors have passed down to us. We know it would not be fitting of us to only complain, only demand. We identify problems, prepare solutions, consult with the President, our Assembly and our Government.

We all know, the economy has slowed down since August 2018. The depreciation of our money, rising interest rates and inflation have all affected our business negatively. Elections are now behind us.

We're entering a period of four years without elections. Turkey's first agenda item for this term should be the economy. There are so many steps to be taken. This period should be a period of tranquility. This period should be a period of structural reforms. This period should be time to work hand in hand for a more prosperous and developed Turkey. Turkey is a strong country. As long as we stand together. As long as we don't alienate each other. Let's embrace one another. If we achieve this, it will eliminate many of the problems we complained about. That's why we say: Our union is eternal, our agenda is economy!”

- Hisarcıklıoğlu on May 1^st and Ramadan

Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that they will continue to work on behalf of the Turkish private sector as they have with YOIKK, Employment Mobilization, TOBB Respite Credits and exports. He expressed their great pride in women and young entrepreneurs.

Hisarcıklıoğlu also celebrated the May 1^st Labor and Solidarity Day, “We celebrate this day of all our laboring brothers who work and toil for our country.” Hisarcıklıoğlu, who extended his condolences for the workers who lost their lives in a traffic accident on their way to Şanlıurfa to celebrate May 1^st. Pointing out that this year's General Assembly is just before the month of Ramadan and said, “We will be greeting Ramadan at a most difficult time for both humanity and the Islamic world. No matter how hard the times are, the month of Ramadan means grace, blessings and mercy. May our Ramadan be blessed.”

- Vice President Fuat Oktay

Vice President Fuat Oktay, in his speech the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey Service Honor Certificate Presentations ceremony, expressed his pleasure in standing with the chambers and commodity exchanges community on occasion of presenting TOBB delegates who completed their 10^th, 20^th and 40^th years of service with service honor certificates.

Conveying President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan's greetings and well wishes to the participants, Oktay stated that TOBB is a platform on which the heart of investment, employment, labor and production in the country beats.

Emphasizing that TOBB is an important stakeholder in putting into practice the reforms in the economy, Oktay said, “The employment mobilization we initiated under the leadership of TOBB in 2017 is the most concrete manifestation of this cooperation. One million additional jobs were created with the employment mobilization thanks to your efforts. I also find it meaningful to be together with the representatives of a union, which knows the value of labor, provides jobs and is an exemplar of solidarity on May 1^st Labor and Solidarity Day. I celebrate May 1^st Labor and Solidarity Day of all our workers.”

Oktay stated that the country economic maneuvers will be strengthened with the increasing numbers of entrepreneurs, gaining new dimensions.

Oktay said that international actors’ desire to shape the world according to their own interests, lawless interventions and massacring democracy in the name of democracy render the flexibility and rapid mobility of business community and exporters in world markets very important.

- Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan

In her speech, Trade Minister Ruhsar Pekcan said that the economy rises on the shoulders of the business world, That is why I believe that the best solutions to problems will be created through cooperation with the business world, rising to the league of high income economies with a more competitive and robust economy.”

Pekcan participated in the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) 75^th General Assembly Service Honor Certificate and Plaque Presentation Ceremony attended by Vice President Fuat Oktay.

Pekcan stated that they have established consultative boards with the business world since the day she took office, expressed the great importance put on consultation and that they carefully evaluate the demands they receive. Pekcan said that the Ministry so far has received around 2,400 requests, “1,156 of them concern our Ministry while the rest are in the purview of other ministries. Only 150 of these were rejected with the reason clearly stated. We have responded positive to the other 1,056 requests. As for your other requests, we have forwarded them on to the relevant ministries, having set up a coordination board to follow up on these.”

Pekcan stated that the ministry continues to offer significant contributions to the country’s development and financing despite the protectionist tendencies increasing throughout the world and the slowdown in global trade. Pekcan reminded that the highest export figure in the history of the republic was in the past year, with an increase in exports in the first 3 months of this year compared to last. Pekcan also touched the ratio of exports to imports, reporting that last year finished with 75% while this year has reached 80%.