Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

In his speech at the ceremony, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu called on the university youth to become entrepreneurs. Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that entrepreneurship is the way to prosper and solve the employment problem. “Looking at the 20 richest countries, you see the 20 most entrepreneurial countries. Now countries are importing entrepreneurs. For me, the entrepreneur is the one who crosses borders.”

Urging young people to leave their comfort areas, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Be a citizen of the world, travel a lot, learn new cultures. Never stop reading, researching. Question, read, investigate. Be conscientious and just in everything you do, in every environment you are in. Work for a world where right makes might, not might makes right. Be the hero of your own story, not anyone else. I am hopeful of the future of my country. How far we’ve come from in the last 30 years; but we have a long way to go. There is no room for pessimism.”

Pointing out that he participated in hundreds of meetings every year, TOBB President said that the happiest environment is the youth in the university. Stating that İskenderun Technical University penned a unique success story, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “It was founded in 2015. It is a very young university, but you have become the fastest rising public university compared to last year.

You're up 19 ranks. You are the first among those established after 2015. The distance you’ve traveled is very important. This success is the architecture of our Rector. Dr. I sincerely congratulate Türkay Dereli and his entire team.”

Stating that it is a great honor to receive an honorary doctorate from such a dynamic university in the field of innovation, entrepreneurship and technology management, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “It is a special honor for me to have the first honorary doctorate of İskenderun Technical University presented to me.”

Stating that the solution of unemployment is also in entrepreneurship, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Currently, just 1 entrepreneur employs 10 people. So we need to get more entrepreneurs. With this vision, I traveled throughout our country. I expounded the merits of entrepreneurship. Turkey's biggest women and young entrepreneurs’ councils have been established. We established TOBB Economy and Technology University. Well, if you ask me to tell you what an entrepreneur is in one sentence, for me, the entrepreneur is the one who crosses the borders. Who did you think of when speaking of space in the past? Russia and USA. For space, the two countries would wage a power struggle. Now when space is mentioned, Elon Musk comes to mind, not a country. The Tesla which he launched into space has completed its first orbit around the sun. Dreaming is very important for entrepreneurship. I'm a 40-year entrepreneur, I still dream every day.”

Prior to the honorary doctorate ceremony, Hisarcıklıoğlu, upon the invitation of the Rector of İskenderun Technical University. Dr. Türkay Dereli, met at the rector's office.