Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey

Speaking at the award ceremony hosted by Van CCI President Necdet Takva, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu spoke in regards to the important projects they have completed for Van. “As TOBB, we built a science high school in Van. We have built this school at the request of our Van CCI and our Commodity Exchange. This is not the only investment we have made in Van as TOBB. In 2007, we built the Annex Building of Martyr Mehmet İzdal Elementary School. I wish our training facilities to bring good and abundance to Van. We've always stood with Van through thick and thin. We were here the day after the Van earthquake. We've provided materiel and financial assistance. We were also here when we broke the Guinness record with our Van CCI’s 52,000-seat Van Breakfast. Because Van is the apple of our eye. With this vision, we have renewed Kapıköy Customs Gate. We have invested 112 million TRY for this. Here, of course, our Minister has great efforts and vision, and Kapıköy and Van are regaining their former glory. It's getting richer, becoming a center of commerce and tourism. It is becoming a logistics center,” Hisarcıklıoğlu said, adding that Van Shopping Fest is growing and participation in the fairs in Van has increased.

Hisarcıklıoğlu, noting that Van and Van Lake are an attractor for tourism, especially for Iranian tourists, said, “I hope this will become the gateway of Anatolia to Asia, Asia will become a transit point to Anatolia. Thanks to my Van brothers, they have shown their devotion. I was awarded an honorary doctorate. I received this title, which was awarded to me, on behalf of our entire business community, especially Van. Allah bless you and your efforts.”

- Van is successful in employment

Van, in the first 9 months of this year, with a net employment growth of more than 11,000, is 1^st in its region, 9^th in Turkey. Hisarcıklıoğlu noted that Van's employment has tripled Turkey’s new employment rate with 13%.

Hisarcıklıoğlu expressed pride in the chamber and commodity exchange in Van, “Both are accredited. They offer a 5-star service to our members.  I also work with these three presidents of Van in Ankara. President Necdet is in TOBB’s administration as Chairman of the CCI Council, where 186 CCIs in Turkey are represented.

We work together with President Nayif at Hamzabeyli Gate and President İzzet at the administration of the Halkalı Customs Gate.

All three of my presidents do their part and work for Van's development and prosperity. Allah bless them too.”

- Recent demands

Pointing out that a difficult period has been passed, Hisarcıklıoğlu stressed that the business world is the one who feels it the most. TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said:

“Recently, many regulations have been implemented in line with the demands you have conveyed to us. Our biggest complaint was the banks. On the initiative of our government, public banks stepped in here. They've cut interest rates a little bit and started lending new loans. Campaigns launched in housing and automotive provided a morale boost for our members. With the recently announced decision, commercial loan interest rates in public banks will hopefully fall to single digits. We also continue to vouch for you with KGF.

In the last three years, we have vouched for 400 billion TRY in loans for approximately 800,000 of our members. With Respite Loans, we have provided 100,000 members with 12 billion TRY in affordable loans. Our second complaint at the banks was high POS commissions.

There used to be no limit. Now an upper limit of 1.60% has been imposed. As TOBB, there was one thing we've been working on for a long time: commercial credit insurance. Public Insurance led the way. Currently, 16 insurance companies provide commercial credit insurance. Make use of this opportunity and announce it to your members.

You had a meeting here with People's Insurance on November 12^th, and I would also like to thank you for that. Vocational Education was very important for our community. Here, we took a very important step with our Ministry. A vocational high school in each province will pair with Chamber-Exchange where they will have a say. Our school in Van is Mehmet Erdemoğlu Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School. We will improve the physical capacity and curriculum of these schools. That way, there's going to be qualified employees that you need. If we succeed, we will expand this project even further.

Another important issue is the Vocational Qualification Certifications. Under TOBB, we established MEYBEM - Vocational Qualification and Certification Center. Vocational qualification certificates are mandatory for 143 professions in hazardous and very hazardous groups. It has most recently become compulsory in the dealership, real estate and service chauffeur categories.

In these professions, employers employing undocumented workers will be fined. More than 750,000 employees have received certificates of vocational competence so far. There are 2.5 million people who will receive more documents, and by working with TOBB MEYBEM, provide your member with the service MYK exams in your province. You do not pay the SSI employer's premium for up to 4.5 years for your employees who have MYK certificate.

Another issue we had trouble with was the judicial system. In 99% of cases, employers always lost. On the other hand, the Commercial Courts lasted 3-4 years. We've got the mediation system coming in. First in employee-employer disputes, and then in all trade disputes, mediation has become mandatory. Now 70% of disputes are resolved without going to court. If you don't agree with the arbitrator, don't go to court, come to TOBB Arbitration. It's faster and it's cheaper.

Finally, our community is undertaking another historic endeavor. Turkey's Automobile Project. Mr. President has charged us with this mission. We found five braves and we got to work. On December 27, the President will show the prototypes to the public. We should all be proud and happy about this.”

- Fighting doesn’t solve problems

TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that, besides good developments there are also problems, but they will overcome them all together. Stating that they have been through many difficulties in the last 30 years, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “But we continued on our way. We didn’t get stuck on bumps and we won't. I believe in the future of my country. Because I know our potential, what we can do. I trust Turkey's entrepreneurial power. Keep one thing in mind. Fighting doesn't solve your problem. It is solved by common wisdom and dialogue. One and together, Allah graces unity with mercy and blessings. As long as we don't alienate each other.”