Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

The “Geographical Markers Information Meeting” was held in Antakya, Hatay, with the cooperation of TOBB and the Turkish Patent and Trademark Institute and hosted by Antakya Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

TOBB Board Member Karakuş emphasized that the issue of geographical markers is important for Turkey and the Turkish private sector.

- Work on salted yoghurt and Sürk cheese

Antakya Chamber of Commerce and Industry Chairman Hikmet Çinçin stated that they take geographical marking very seriously and that in 2007, they acquired a geographical marker for the Antakya Künefe, making it exportable.

Antakya Commodity Exchange Chair Mehmet Ali Kuseyri stated that they are embracing the heritage of these lands which have hosted dozens of civilizations.

Making presentations during the meeting were, Turkish Patent and Trademark Office Geographical Signs Dept. Chief Hakan KIZILTEPE on Industrial Property Law No. 6769; Prizren Municipal Assembly President Levent BUŞ on business life in Kosovo; TOBB-SEM Lecturer Serdar BİLECEN on sales and marketing; Huriye ÖZENER (Özener Patent) on European Union Application Processes and Auditing as well as Good Practice Samples; Lawyer Ekin Karakuş Öcal (Ankara Patent) on the rights and responsibilities of the registration holder.

Interviews were held with TOBB Board Member Bülent Karakuş attending the meeting via Kosovo State Television, and chamber/exchange chairpersons as well as producers.

Products that were the subjects for business connections were the Antakya Künefe, table olives, olive oil, pomegranate sour, red onions, marble, shoe manufacturers, wooden door manufacturers and thermal spring tourism.

Kosovo Prizren Municipal Council President Levent Buş and Antakya Chamber of Commerce and Industry President Hikmet Kincin signed a business cooperation protocol. It was also decided that a business cooperation protocol would be signed with the Erdek Chamber of Commerce. Reyhanlı Chamber of Commerce, Reyhanlı Commodity Exchange and Erdek Chamber of Commerce decided to become a sister chambers.

On the second day of the meeting, along with the Kosovo procurement delegation, olive producers, shoe makers, künefe makers were visited and bilateral negotiations were held.

Additionally regional goods stalls from Hatay, Osmaniye and Kahramanmaraş were also present.