Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Exactly a century ago, our ancestors fight against oppression and the heroic saga written here not only ensured the liberation of Adana, but also heralded the great victory that will come with the War for Independence. Adana is the city of hope and stability. these are the lands which have birthed Saim Bey, Ali Yaver, Rahmiye Hanım and Mufti Haji Mehmet and thousands more patriots. It is the name of a spirit and faith that does not back down in the face of invaders with more powerful weapons, and refuses living under oppression. This spirit of unity and solidarity rising from Adana is our greatest strength in the face of threats to our nation, flag, homeland and state today. Anyone who wants to disrupt the unity and vitality of our country should know that as long as this spirit and braves are in Adana, no one can divide this country. I commemorate our ancestors who blessed us with these days, Gazi Mustafa Kemal Atatürk, the Founder of our Republic, and his comrades in arms, our martyrs who marched to the martyrdom in the defense of Adana and all our heroes and veterans, with gratitude.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu said that today, Adana has become a center of trade, industry, agriculture, education and tourism in a manner worthy of its past. ‎”Adana became the engine of industrialization in Anatolia and spread the industry to Anatolia.‎ With its fertile land, entrepreneurial people, have become the apple in the eye of our country. There's dynamism, there's movement, there's abundance. It is at the forefront of trade volume, production and exports. Adana OIZ, where 31 of the 1000 largest industrial organizations of our country operate, is among the top 10 OIZs in Turkey. 35 of the 500 companies ranked in OSBÜK's OIZ Stars Survey are also here. Adana is also the star of agriculture in Turkey. Çukurova is the most fertile region of Turkey, one of the largest plains of our country and the world. In greenhouses, it has managed to become one of the first 3 cities. I wholeheartedly congratulate the original owners of all these achievements and my entrepreneurial brothers who work for Adana.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that global national income has shrunk by 3 percent and global trade volume by 8 percent due to the pandemic, that 2020 is the lost year for the whole world, and that 2021 is partly compensated for these losses and remains behind as a year of repair. Global national income will also reach $100 trillion for the first time in history. Our country's economy and industry grew by 12 percent in the first nine months of 2021. Our exports reached $225.4 billion, up 33 percent from last year, setting a historic record. Our country's share of global exports has also risen above 1 percent for the first time. Hopefully we aim to reach $250 billion this year. In Adana, it raised its exports from 1.9 billion dollars last year to 2.5 billion dollars, setting a separate record and being among the most exporting cities.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the necessity of combating climate change and reducing carbon emissions necessitates a new and major transformation in the economy. “‎2021 was actually the year we started to move from the pandemic to the Green Deal. Our lives are changing fast. The future is shaping up before our eyes. On climate change, we are shifting from talking to doing. We are now in the process of calculating costs for business. Pretty soon, we're going to build our own emissions trading system and price carbon emissions. This will be the biggest tax reform step to date. As TOBB, we emphasize the green industrial revolution. Just like we missed the industrial revolution, we say we shouldn't miss it. We explain that the green industrial revolution is a comprehensive technological renewal involving the industrial, agricultural and service sectors. In addition to green transformation, we should never ignore digital transformation. Those who ignore digital transformation are bound to lose out eventually. No matter what we do, we have to digitize our business processes. For this purpose, we offer all the information and guidance you need. The transformation process we face also means the need for high capital. We have to reach a structure where inflation is low, interest rates are reasonable and exchange rates are stable. With new hopes and new expectations, we are entering a new year. We will believe in the power of our nation and keep our hopes alive. We will continue to work tirelessly, without being pessimistic. We will not alienate anyone. We won't discriminate. I wish that 2022 will be a year of health and peace.”