Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

At the meeting representatives of the private sector were briefed on the reforms by public representatives who prepared the reforms and regulations. Many new regulations were introduced, such as the transition to one-stop-window for company establishment, the facilitation of the construction permit processes, the removal of excavation permission in acquiring electricity.

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, in his speech, stated that they’ve convened to assess the investment environment in Turkey, “Because we want to reach Turkey's goals; to attract more investments, attain peace, we want to be richer.” Stating that the public-private sectors should cooperate and implement the right strategies, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We know that we are stronger together. That's why we're here today, to discuss what has been done in recent years in regards to the improvement of the business environment in Turkey and to facilitate doing business. We want to talk about what we can do for the further improvement of the business environment in Turkey after this.”

- What was done?

Pointing to the place better in global competition, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that one of the most important indicators used on a global scale is the World Bank's Doing Business rankings. “Our goal is clear. If we are among the 20 most powerful economies in the world, then we must be in the top 20 of all indicators,” said the TOBB President. Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “You will see, we will enter into the Doing Business top 20. We began the Doing Business adventure with our government last year. We prepared our reform plan, called the World Bank, showed our plan. Together with the ministries and the World Bank, we have prepared a 3-year road map. We took the first fruits of our work on this subject last year. In the 2019 report on Turkey, we moved up 17 places for the first time in history. We became one of the top 10 reformist economies. Last year, chambers became one-stop-shops for company establishment. In the field of credit supply, our movable pledge law was implemented. Improvements in company liquidation, tax and customs transactions were achieved. These efforts resulted in leaping 45 steps in credit supply, 37 steps in building permits, 30 steps in liquidation and foreign trade for Turkey. This year, under the leadership of our Treasury and Finance Ministry, we worked to prepare the Doing Business reforms of the new era.

This year, a single window application was introduced in the trade registry. Now the entrepreneur can go to a single window and do all the work with a single officer. The documents required for construction permits and deed transactions were reduced and moved to electronic media. Now workplace registration will be made automatically to the SSI in the construction permits. While obtaining the construction permit, there will be no need to declare tax debts. In construction, audits will be made on a risk-based basis in line with world practices. There have also been positive developments in the field of taxation. VAT exemption and a one-point reduction in title deed were realized in the purchase of machinery and equipment. I would like to thank Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak for their support. Via Medos software, foreign trade and proof of origin and circulation documents are electronically approved. With the support of our Minister of Trade Ruhsar Pekcan, some improvements were made in foreign trade costs.

As TOBB, we are pleased to contribute to this process in the last 6 months. I would like to express my gratitude to all those who contributed, especially Treasury and Finance Minister Berat Albayrak and our Deputy Minister Bülent Aksu, as well as the President of the Republic of Turkey who supported this process on behalf of the Turkish private sector.”

- We need to explain the reforms domestically and internationally

Hisarcıklıoğlu underlined that the reforms are not done and also underlined that they should promote them domestically and internationally. Drawing attention to the fact that these reforms will not benefit anyone if the business world is not aware, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We need to explain these reforms to the reporters. For this, we contacted the Treasury and the Ministry of Finance together with the World Bank officials. In June, we will explain these reforms to the World Bank in the US.”