Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

As a result of the consultation meeting hosted by İstanbul Chamber of Industry (ICI) President Erdal Bahçıvan which lasted approximately 5 hours, a consensus was reached on the implementation of 5 projects to revive the economy and employment of the region.

The joint statement of TOBB Chambers of Industry is as follows:

“As the Presidents of the 12 Chambers of Industry within the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), we came together under the chairmanship of TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and hosted by the İstanbul Chamber of Industry to contribute to the revitalization and normalization process of the economies of the 11 provinces affected by the earthquake.

The projects initiated in this context and the suggestions that we consider to be beneficial to implement are as follows:

“My supplier is from the Earthquake Zone”

In particular, we invite large-scale companies to meet their raw material and semi-finished product supplies from companies in the earthquake region. In this context, we aim to revive trade in the region by making the necessary matches with the producers in the region from the TOBB Industry Database. The aim is to inform the Chambers and Commodity Exchanges and 65 Sector Councils members in all our provinces and to ensure the participation of business circles throughout the country in the project.

National Food Retailers study launched

Through Chambers, Commodity Exchanges and Sector Councils, we aim for food retailers operating nationally to purchase agricultural and food products and raw materials from producers in the earthquake region. The work started in this regard will be accelerated.

Affirmative action from e-commerce marketplaces

We aim to spread the practice of not receiving commissions for the products to be delivered to consumers from the companies in the earthquake region and to bring the producers in the region to the forefront and to bring the producers in the region to the forefront. Initiatives will be taken by cargo companies to reduce the sales and cargo costs to be made over the internet from the region.

Technical Support Provision

We will launch a technical support campaign through the Chambers and Commodity Exchanges and with the contributions of our members in order to revive employment and economic activity and to reactivate the damaged production facilities.

Additional Income Support for Employees

In order to recover employment in the earthquake region, we assess that it would be beneficial to return the income tax and insurance premium deducted from the employees throughout 2023. This will ensure these deductions are reflected to the employees as additional income.

Who attended the meeting:

The Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB) President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, TOBB Chambers of Industry Council President - İstanbul Chamber of Industry President Erdal Bahçıvan, TOBB Vice President - İstanbul Commodity Exchange President Ali Kopuz, TOBB Vice President - Kocaeli Chamber of Industry President Ayhan Zeytinoğlu, TOBB Vice President - İstanbul and Marmara, Aegean, Mediterranean, Black Sea Regions Chamber of Maritime Commerce President Tamer Kıran,TOBB Board Member - Adana Chamber of Industry President Zeki Kıvanç, TOBB Board Member - Kayseri Chamber of Industry President Mehmet Büyüksimitci, Aegean Region Chamber of Industry President Ender Yorgancılar, Ankara Chamber of Industry President Seyit Ardıç, Aydın Chamber of Industry President Gökhan Maraş, Balıkesir Chamber of Industry President Nazmi Yarış, Denizli Chamber of Industry President Selim Kasapoğlu, Eskişehir Chamber of Industry President Celalettin Kesikbaş, Gaziantep Chamber of Industry Council President Adil Sani Konukoğlu, Gaziantep Chamber of Industry President Adnan Ünverdi, Konya Chamber of Industry President Mustafa Büyükeğen and Nevşehir Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Arif Parmaksız.”