Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

The “TOBB 2026 Service of Honor Certificate and Plaque Presentation Ceremony” was held at the TOBB Twin Towers, hosted by M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and attended by President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.

Speaking at the ceremony, Hisarcıklıoğlu noted that many reforms and regulations aimed at improving the business and investment environment have been implemented with President Erdoğan’s signature, and that a solution-oriented approach has always boosted the morale of the business community.

Noting that Türkiye has become the largest economy in the Islamic world with a national income exceeding $1.6 trillion today, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Türkiye is the largest industrial nation in the region between Italy and China and has reached a historic peak in its share of global exports.

Hisarcıklıoğlu noted that the number of exporters—all of whom are members of chambers of commerce and industry—has exceeded 160,000, adding that the “Made in Türkiye” label is now recognized worldwide.

- “Türkiye is achieving new successes in the defense industry every day”

Noting that significant achievements have also been made in the service sector and that Turkish contractors have successfully completed projects in 138 countries, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Türkiye has emerged as a veritable “island of stability” under the leadership of President Erdoğan during a period marked by major global upheavals and the reshaping of power balances.

Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that the country is achieving new successes in the defense industry every day and strengthening its deterrent power, stating, “In defense industry exports, our country has entered the top 11 in the world. We take great pride in this.”

Recalling that Türkiye will host this year’s NATO summit, the 31^st Conference of the Parties (COP31) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and the Organization of Turkic States (OTS) summit thanks to its growing diplomatic influence, Hisarcıklıoğlu also drew attention to developments in global trade.

Hisarcıklıoğlu explained that the United States has imposed additional tariffs and taken steps to protect strategic sectors, while the European Union (EU) has restricted market access through “Made in Europe” initiatives and carbon tax regulations.

Noting that China protects its own producers through incentives and subsidies, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that some countries are expanding their export markets by selling below cost with state support.

Pointing out that this situation undermines fair competition, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “As the Turkish business community, we never lose hope. We continue to look to the future with optimism, to produce, to invest, and to fight. We believe our country has resilient and solid foundations.”

- “New steps are needed for our export markets where competition is intensifying”

Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Türkiye could largely mitigate global risks through its Industry and Technology Strategy. He emphasized that, in this era where no one is adhering to multilateral and rule-based trade, stricter measures must be taken regarding the import of finished goods.

Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized the need to implement measures that encourage domestic production in the import of intermediate goods and raw materials, stating, “At the same time, we must accelerate trade diplomacy initiatives such as the modernization of the Customs Union and new-generation free trade agreements. Similarly, we need new and proactive steps for our export markets, where competition is intensifying.”

Noting that significant support has been provided for exports and that there have been substantial increases in discount loans, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that the volume of discount loans should be increased to the level of three months’ worth of exports, or 70 billion dollars.

Hisarcıklıoğlu also articulated the business community’s current expectations, stating:

“The biggest challenge facing our business community right now is access to financing. The contraction in credit volume and high interest rates are acting as shackles on the feet of our SMEs. Payments are stalling in the market, trade is slowing down, and as a result, growth is losing momentum. To overcome these challenges, we must provide preferential treatment to our SMEs; we should exempt SME loans and commercial credit cards from monthly credit growth limits. This way, we can bring significant relief to the market. Due to rising input costs, we are losing our foreign markets. Let us provide additional support to all sectors, particularly textiles, ready-to-wear, leather, and furniture. We also believe that through structural reforms, we will preserve the competitive strength of our sectors and strengthen our country’s position as a safe haven.”

- President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan

In his speech, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan noted that this ceremony, organized by TOBB every May, is essentially a gesture of gratitude, a token of loyalty, and a mark of appreciation that TOBB extends to its own members. Erdoğan said that the recipients of the certificates of honor and plaques, through the important duties they have performed within TOBB during this period, as well as their sacrifices and achievements, have also paved the way for the country’s future.

Emphasizing that the recipients have laid the cornerstones of the path leading to the “Turkish Century” by unlocking the true potential of the Turkish economy - from exports to investment, and from production to employment - Erdoğan continued his remarks as follows:

“They worked hard, remained patient, and persevered; they never wavered in their belief in a great and powerful Türkiye or in their passion for serving our nation. For this reason, on behalf of myself and my nation, I would like to once again express my gratitude to all of you - to every member of the TOBB family and to all my brothers and sisters who have built our economy, trade, industry, and business world brick by brick. As the umbrella organization of our private sector, comprising 367 chambers of commerce, chambers of industry, commodity exchanges, and maritime chambers of commerce, TOBB is truly fulfilling a very important mission. Our chambers and exchanges across our 81 provinces and 160 districts are demonstrating a sincere and dedicated effort by seizing every opportunity and mobilizing all their resources for the development of our cities. Naturally, when this effort is accompanied by sincere intentions, the picture of success that emerges, thankfully, grows a little more each day and becomes increasingly evident. I am pleased to state that, as of today, TOBB is the third-largest chamber system in the world in terms of quality and the volume of services provided.

- “Your hard work and contribution are evident at every stage of the progress we have made”

Erdoğan stated that with its 2,634,000 members, the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Türkiye (TOBB) serves as the driving force, backbone, and guarantor of Türkiye and its economy.

Noting that 99 percent of exports—amounting to $273 billion—are currently carried out by companies that are members of chambers of commerce and stock exchanges, Erdoğan continued:

“Similarly, with a workforce of 17 million, these companies account for 74 percent of registered employment. In particular, the service capacity of our chambers of commerce and stock exchanges has increased significantly in recent times. From agriculture to education, and from trade to technology, your hard work and contributions are evident at every stage of the progress we have made across various sectors. By modernizing our customs gates without imposing any burden on the state, you have enabled us to break new records in exports. By making the initial investment through our Grain Board and subsequently involving the private sector in the process, you have led the way in transitioning to a licensed storage system in agriculture and ensuring food supply security. As one of the founding partners of the Credit Guarantee Fund, you facilitated access to financing by acting as guarantors for your members’ bank loans. Together with ASELSAN, you produced the first quantum computer that will position our country in a strategic position in global technology competition.”

- “It was you who made the TOGG a reality”

President Erdoğan noted that the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges Türkiye (TOBB) had built 81 schools across 81 provinces and had mobilized all its resources and capabilities on the ground to assist earthquake victims during the disaster of the century.

Recalling that TOBB provided the greatest support for the construction of over 455,000 earthquake-resistant housing units - for which they had made a commitment to the victims and had handed over the keys as of last December - Erdoğan noted the following:

“Finally, it was you who made the launch of Türkiye’s first electric vehicle, the TOGG, a reality. Having secured the top spot with a 35% market share domestically, the TOGG continues to grace the roads in many European countries. However, I must also bring the following matter to your and our nation’s attention with regret: while we strive to tear down the walls of learned helplessness imposed on Türkiye for decades, some have consistently placed obstacles in our path throughout this process. We have not taken seriously those who have exploited every opportunity to spread doom and gloom, and we will not give them any credence moving forward. Just as we responded to those who asked, ‘What do they know about making cars?’ by actually producing them, we will continue to achieve new successes.”

Following the speeches, certificates of honor and plaques were presented to those who have served the longest within the chambers and commodity exchanges.