Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Speaking at the opening of the meeting TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that their guests, Ministers Çelik and Yıldız would have opportunity for counsel regarding the latest economic developments, the problems of the industrialists, suggestions and expectations.

Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out that the world economy is going through a very difficult time, “It is a time when that which we knew to be white is black and that which we knew to be fact is false. When we look at how the world has been structured after WWII we can see that there is extraordinary change.”

- “There is a 2 trillion dollar risk if the dominos fall”

Speaking about the process which started in 2008, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the economic crisis has covered the whole world and has today infected Europe. Hisarcıklıoğlu spoke, “Today, many countries in Europe are having serious problems with debt. Europeans are going through exactly the same thing as we did in 2001. Unfortunately, due to the lack of measures taken, the crisis has grown since it started in 2008. I want to underline this; the loans France, Germany and English banks gave to Greece, Portugal, Ireland, Spain and Italy are close to 2 trillion dollars. What does this mean? If one of the dominos fall, Europe will have to carry a 2 trillion dollar risk.”

 The most salient point for Turkey is that 50% of its foreign trade is conducted in these countries, explained Hisarcıklıoğlu and extolled the recent great success stories of the Turkish private sector. Reporting that Turkey was one of the 24 countries which have regained the level of pre-crisis production, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Among those countries, we are the 7th. As of the first half of 2011, we are the fastest growing country in the world. We have reached historical heights in national income, private sector machinery-equipment investment and private sector employment. In the first night months our industry production volume has grown by 9.7%.”

- “We must set our axis on two main strategies”

Stating that Turkey must continue to grow for two reasons, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “The first of our goals is to have an export volume of 500 billion dollars in 2023. We want to be among the top 10 economies of the world. The second is finding jobs for the 750,000 people who join the workforce every year. Turkey must set everything towards these two goals, like its economic laws and labor life. If we miss either of these two goals we have lost. Therefore the work we do with our Ministers is to this end. If we do not produce, if we don’t work this will not be possible. We can only achieve our goals like this. The examples of those who failed stand right beside us.”

- Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yıldız

Energy and Natural Resources Minister Taner Yıldız, speaking at the Industry chambers Council held at the TOBB Twin Towers stated that there are very clear messages regarding energy efficiency and that these warnings should be taken forward beyond legislations.

Stating that energy savings can be achieved without lowering the quality of life and without going too much into detail, Yıldız said that the energy saved is easier to reach than the new energy produced and cheaper as well. Stating that Turkey is behind Europe in terms of energy efficiency Minister Yıldız said, “Energy efficiency is a culture. This culture has not evolved as much as energy production here, unfortunately. Turkey is growing each day. We must develop our country in all manner of ways. Energy efficiency cannot be an exception to this.”

- Labor and Social Security President Faruk Çelik

Labor and Social Security President Faruk Çelik, speaking at the meeting stated that labor life is a very important matter on their agenda and that they plan on completely replacing the legislation on the subject within a year.

Stating that Turkey is gaining ground with the aid of the efforts of the private sector in comparison with European countries on the issue of employment, Çelik said that in the last year 1.7 million people have found employment, pushing unemployment down to 9.2%.

- TOBB Industry Chambers Council President Nurettin Özdebir

TOBB Industry Chambers Council President Nurettin Özdebir touched on laws shaping how business is done and that which give shape to business life. Stating that a tri-part advisory council is convened when discussing these laws according to law, Özdebir said, “During this meeting, employers’ syndicates, workers’ syndicates and the public administration work together. But, as you know, most of our establishments are made up of smaller ones. Almost 90% of them are establishments employing between 1 and 20 people. The problems these establishments face are not the same as the large ones do. Especially TİSK, representing establishments which are a part of TÜSİAD, and our problems are nowhere near similar. I believe that it will be more suitable for TOBB which represents all of the establishments in Turkey to represent us.”
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