Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

During his speech, TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu expressed their great pride in the fact that Minister of Treasury is shown as an example of honesty and principle and has also been elected as the minister of the treasury of the year.

Providing information on the economic progress in Batman and TOBB’s endeavors aimed at Batman, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the only way to prosper and to defeat poverty is through entrepreneurship.

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Batman has everything going for it including agriculture, industry, tourism and oil, he went on to say that once peace was ensured in the city in 2013, tourism had flourished.

The national average rate for the opening of new establishments is 5% while this figure is 9% reported Hisarcıklıoğlu and stated that this is a sign of hope for the future.

Expressing that there is a great transformation underway in Batman, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Without peace, everyone shuts themselves away. We want peace to rule Turkey and its surrounding region. We are all brothers. This peace will lead us to prosperity. In peace, Batman and Turkey prosper. I am hopeful for the future of our country. Nobody can stop us. We were behind both Saudi Arabia and Greece in regards to economy 30 years ago; today their economies barely add up to ours.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Countries are made strong by their economies. We may not have oil or gas but we have a great enterprising spirit. We discovered that with the late Turgut Özal. Turkey receives 36 million tourists. We are among the top 6 tourism destinations in the world.”

- Minister of the Treasury Şimşek

Minister of the Treasury Mehmet Şimşek stated that Batman is closing the distance with Turkey rapidly. Reporting that the province had exported 600,000 USD in 2002, Minister Şimşek stated that exports have increased to 90 million USD, able to reach billions in a handful of years.

Touching on the Kurdish issue, Şimşek stated that concrete steps have been taken towards a sustainable solution in the spirit of fraternity.

Şimşek went on to speak in regards to reforms, stability and the fight against corruption.

Afterwards, Minister Şimşek, Hisarcıklıoğlu and the other protocol members presented the awards for record taxpayers.