Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu visited Yıldız who would be taking the office of Energy Minister in the new term to congratulate and wish him well, saying, “I think that one of the most successful Ministers in the past term was Minister Yıldız. I wholeheartedly believe that he will successful in this term as well and we will support him fully.”

Stating that the most important issue for the world and Turkey would be energy, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that the diversification of energy sources in this term would be imperative.
Saying that nuclear and renewable sources of energy need to be diversified, Hisarcıklıoğlu, “Turkey can’t abandon nuclear energy and it must also diversify its sources of renewable energy. In this, especially regarding the construction of nuclear plants, we as the Turkish business world give our full support to the Minister. If Turkey wants to be one of the 10 largest economies in the world it won’t be without nuclear energy.”

Stating that Turkish industrialists can obtain 18% of the energy they use 12% cheaper in free market conditions, TOBB President said that the private sector must have knowledge on the subject.

- A revolutionary support for the machine and production industry

Pointing out the opportunity in the machinery and production sector as another important subject, Hisarcıklıoğlu spoke, “Unfortunately nobody outside the sector knows about this. If investors in renewable energy sources use domestic machinery and equipment, they will be able to do so more cheaply and sell energy in more favorable conditions. I would like to thank the Minister for this on behalf of the Turkish private sector.

This is a revolutionary support for the Turkish machinery production industry. There has been no step more substantial taken to support the machinery and production sector recently.

They ask me what to invest in. I say build factories to supply intermediary goods according to the energy sector’s needs. There is a market there. Cheaper and of higher quality. Anybody who utilizes this will be able to sell energy in more favorable conditions. This is a magnificent opportunity. We must take advantage of this.”

- 59 Sector Councils’ requests from the Energy Ministry

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that he had delivered a file containing the requests of the 59 Sector Councils which work under TOBB from the Energy Ministry and that the Minister had agreed to review them in detail.

- Turning crisis into opportunity

Hisarcıklıoğlu answered the press’ questions. When asked about the AK Party Vice President  Bülent Gedikli’s economic crisis warning, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that a similar warning had been issued by Prime Minister Deputy Ali Babacan but did not concern Turkey.
Commenting on the crisis stemming from USA finance world to Europe in 2008 and 2009, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “I hope this will not be a similar crisis, but if it is, as long as we have taken the necessary precautions there is no need for panic.”

Saying that 50% of Turkey’s exports were to Europe and that they had no wish for a recurrence of the crisis, the TOBB President stated that Turkey must not neglect other countries like China, India and South American countries, especially Mexico, “If we diversify our markets the reduction of a consumer’s buying power in Europe will not affect us. We must turn these crises into opportunities.”

- Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yıldız

The Energy and Natural Resources Minister, Taner Yıldız, also made a speech afterwards and stated that they had gladly accepted the support of the private sector in the past and would continue to do so, stating that TOBB has made significant contributions to legislations prepared to date especially on renewable energy sources and mining.

Stating that the Renewable Energy Law had been passed during December, Yıldız said that the producers, the employers, the energy sector and the citizens had been presented with a profitable framework. “We want this in order to develop a free market and to increase the significance of the private sector and to develop a sector that is competitive and of a higher quality where companies that compete to provide better service get ahead.”
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