Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Speaking at the event, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that certificates were awarded to 73 chambers and exchanges, 11 of which were receiving them for the first time.

Noting that the chambers and commodity exchanges had completed a rigorous process, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “This certificate is a testament to our shared success. Among the chambers and commodity exchanges audited this period, four of our chambers and commodity exchanges earned the highest score and qualified for a 7-star rating for the first time.”

Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that, as TOBB, they must provide guidance to their members, stating, “The accreditation system is our cornerstone. Thanks to the accreditation system, our chambers and commodity exchanges are transforming and developing themselves, generating projects, expanding abroad, and providing resources to their provinces and districts. “To date, they have carried out 2,750 projects. They have reached a point where they can collaborate on projects with chambers of commerce and industry from more than 30 countries. With the projects they undertake, they are winning awards in competitions involving chambers of commerce and industry from around the world. They are becoming world champions. In short, chambers of commerce and industry have become centers that produce and deliver the best possible services to our entrepreneurs,” he said.

Hisarcıklıoğlu, announcing the launch of joint initiatives with the World Chambers Federation, noted that the Turkish chamber-exchange system is one of the top three such systems in the world.

Noting that accreditation standards have been updated, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “New-generation services have been added, such as e-commerce, supply chain management, social responsibility in R&D activities, promotion of local values, digital and green transformation, and vocational training. We have transitioned from the A-B-C class categories to a 4-, 5-, 6-, and 7-star rating system. “We have made our member management system software available for use by all our chambers and commodity exchanges. Everyone will be able to see which chamber or stock exchange received the highest scores on which questions and in which areas,” he commented.

Noting that their goal is to elevate chambers and commodity exchanges to a higher tier, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that as of today, accreditation has been completed for 289 chambers and commodity exchanges, and that their target is 367.

Noting that audits on this matter will be repeated in three years, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated: “It’s not a case of ‘we got the certificate, so we’re done.’ There’s no automatic exemption from audits. Most importantly, we can’t just stop and say, ‘We’ve succeeded.’ If you don’t keep this system going, you’ll lose your star, and your rating may drop. However, if you keep building on what you’ve achieved, you’ll move toward seven stars. Look, it’s no longer just countries that are building brands worldwide. Provinces and even districts can become brands and stand out in the competition. You are the opinion leaders of your province and district. You will also take on the leadership role to turn your city into a brand. You will guide our community and our entrepreneurs. You will bring together all stakeholders in the provinces and districts and mobilize them to achieve the goal. At this point, we need to continue gathering the requests and needs of our members to further improve service quality.”

Faik Yavuz, Chairman of the TOBB Accreditation Board, also stated that the accreditation system contributes to the development of the institutional service capacities of chambers of commerce and industry.

- Minister Bolat

Trade Minister Ömer Bolat also stated that the TOBB’s accreditation certification initiative aims to improve the quality of service and work discipline among professional organizations nationwide. Noting that this initiative has been adopted as a model by chambers of commerce in Islamic countries, Bolat explained that efforts are underway to expand the model to other Islamic countries.

Pointing out that technological advancements, the digital economy, e-commerce, and artificial intelligence are transforming every aspect of life, and that this is posing challenges for countries, Bolat emphasized that the global economy has entered a phase marked by trade and tariff wars and rising trade protectionism. Bolat underscored that Türkiye is in a geographically advantageous position and noted that, for the past 23 years, the country has strengthened its stability in every area by serving as a pioneer of peace initiatives in the region.

Bolat reported that the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) signed between Türkiye and Ukraine has been ratified by the Ukrainian Parliament, and that negotiations are ongoing with the United Kingdom to expand the FTA to include the services sector.

Noting that FTA negotiations have also begun between Türkiye and Canada, Bolat made the following remarks: "To ensure that Turkish industry and the economy are not adversely affected by the new waves of protectionism in the European Union, we are continuing our intensive diplomacy and trade negotiations, which are multifaceted, multidimensional, and encompass all countries. We are conducting these efforts in collaboration with our private-sector organizations, foremost among them TOBB."

At the conclusion of the program, accreditation certificates were presented to 73 chambers of commerce and commodity exchanges affiliated with TOBB.

(A.A.)