17.10.2013 İstanbul
The President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB), M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, has been reelected as the Vice President of EUROCHAMBRES by unanimous vote at the Haliç Congress Center during EUROCHAMBRES’ General Assembly while the German Chamber of Commerce Chairman Richard Weber was elected as the new president.
Individuals who will
also be acting as Vice President during the 2014-2015 terms are the Austrian
Chamber of Commerce’s Marta Schultz, Luxembourg Chamber of Commerce’s Pierre
Gramegna.
Elected to
EUROCHAMBRES Board Membership are Andre Marcon of the French Chamber of
Commerce, Michl Ebner of the Italian Chamber of Commerce, Andrzej Arendarski of
the Polish Chamber of Commerce and the Miquel Valls i Maseda of the Spanish
Chamber of Commerce.
- “A great honor on behalf of my country and the Turkish
business world”
At the meeting
wherein the results of the General Assembly were announced, Hisarcıklıoğlu
stated that they have convened the European business community in İstanbul,
holding the EUROCHAMBRES Global Chamber Platform meeting, the EUROCHAMBRES
Economic Forum, and the 114th General Assembly of the EUROCHAMBRES.
Reporting that he has
been reelected as Vice President by a record vote, Hisarcıklıoğlu said,
“Before, we were the first Vice President elected from a non-EU country. That
was a first then and having received all of the 83 valid votes is a great honor
on behalf of my country and the Turkish business world.”
Stating that this
illustrates clearly the way the European business community views Turkey,
Hisarcıklıoğlu said:
“The European
business community is for Turkey becoming a part of the EU; for the economies
of Europe and Turkey to be integrated, believing that Turkey’s economy will
grant momentum to Europe’s. We, as the Turkish business community and TOBB, are
doing our best to promote our country and relaying the interests of the
business community to the European political leaders, helping Europe to leaving
the crisis behind and move on to a brighter future.
The world’s economy
has shifted towards a new axis. Due to the inactivity of the WTO, the USA is
looking for partnerships along two 2 axis: One of them, the Transatlantic
Commerce and Investment Partnership with Europe as well as another over on the
Pacific side. When this is achieved, three fourths of the world’s economy will
be brought together in Europe and the Pacific with no obstacles. It is
inconceivable that Turkey would be left out of this. If Turkey is integrated
into this chain, we will be a part of a great market.”
- “Turkey will continue its economic development”
The new president of
EUROCHAMBRES, Richard Weber, stated that the organization of the EUROCHAMBRES
General Assembly is İstanbul is testament to the success of TOBB and said,
“Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, for me, is one of the most important people in the
Mediterranean. Someone who can embody Europe and Asia in a single person;
someone who can see that Turkey will take on important roles in the future.”
Stating that Turkey
will become one of the most important actors in Europe in the coming years,
Weber said that Turkey, a stable country, will continue its economic
development.
Weber stated that,
due to his daughter’s work in İstanbul at the World Bank, he has a personal
connection with Turkey and that the relations between Germany and Turkey are
especially significant for both countries.
Stating that
EUROCHAMBRES has made important advances under the presidency of Alessandro
Barberis in the last four years, Weber reported that they have declared
Barberis a lifelong ambassador for EUROCHAMBRRES.
Pointing out three
subjects they will focus on in the new term, Weber went on, “Firstly, we plan
on consolidating chambers in an inclusive and growing network. To not only
bring together the biggest and brightest, but all countries; I want to work
with the business community within a single market with harmonious ethical and
cultural values.”
Stating that,
secondly, they want to come to the fore as a dependable economic development
partner, Weber said that they would be giving political leaders and
institutions messages to this end while thirdly, they will be opening
organization branches in many countries.
- EUROCHAMBRES Economic Forum results
During the meeting,
the results of the EUROCHAMBRES Economic Forum were announced by the
EUROCHAMBRES Secretary General Arnaldo Abruzzini.
Abruzzini stated that
they have focused on four matters during the Forum. These being, “First,
investment, financing and supporting newly established companies via
educational and supportive activities. Second, the necessity of European
countries to have an international vision and having the chambers become
effective in this regard.
Third, we have
focused on enabling entrepreneurship potentials, especially those of women.
Lastly, we have focused on the importance of supporting R&D processes in
regards to the increasing importance of reindustrialization in Europe. As a
result, chambers are candidates to enact change in European countries.”