02.12.2013 Kyrgyzstan
The Kyrgyzstan-Turkey Manas University presented the President of the Union of Chambers and Commodity Exchanges of Turkey, Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu. Hisarcıklıoğlu accepted the title on behalf of the Turkish private sector.
Afterwards,
Hisarcıklıoğlu gave the first lesson on “The Role of the Private Sector in
Enterprise and Development”, emphasizing the importance of entrepreneurship.
“Entrepreneurship
will only grow as strong as it is nurtured in its infancy,” said Hisarcıklıoğlu
and went on to say that TOBB plays an important role in bringing
entrepreneurship to the fore in Turkey.
Drawing attention to
the development of entrepreneurship, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that the level of
prosperity and the ability to compete in the international economic arena
increases in countries which harbor a culture of enterprise. Stating that it is
the entrepreneurs which are behind the level of success Turkey has enjoyed in
the last 30 years, Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that Turkey’s exports volume has
increased from 3 billion USD to 160 billion USD with 62% of this being
conducted by small and medium sized establishments (SMEs).
Hisarcıklıoğlu
advised the students to first dream and then define goals for themselves and
work hard for success. TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Entrepreneurship
will gain you two benefits: jobs and prosperity. Why did the Ottoman Empire
collapse? It is because it wasn’t an entrepreneurial society. Soviet Russia, a
super power. They launched satellites into orbit but couldn’t distribute food.
Investment, employment and prosperity are provided by the private sector.”
Reminding that Turkey
has no reserves of petroleum or natural gas, he said, “There’s no oil or gas.
And better for it. Wealth is not below the ground, it’s above it. The same is
true for you. You are the wealth of Kyrgyzstan.”
Stating that the
state’s duty is to prepare a field suitable for business, Hisarcıklıoğlu
stressed the importance of developing an environment conducive to business and
economic competition.
During the ceremony,
the Kyrgyzstan-Turkey Manas University Rector Prof. Dr. Sebahattin Balcı said
in his speech, “We have a long way to go; many things to do and no time. That
is why we must work hard.”
Stating that after
1982, Turkey has shown great progress with the private sector being
instrumental in this with TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu being at the
head of the private sector, Rector Prof. Dr. Balcı said that they consider
Hisarcıklıoğlu worthy of an honorary doctorate for representing the mission of
the Manas University and contributions to the development of Turkey.
Following the
speeches, Rector Prof. Dr. Balcı presented the diploma for an honorary
doctorate to TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu.
Rector Prof. Dr.
Balcı presented an oil painting of Hisarcıklıoğlu to him which was painted by
the students as well as a wall hanging adorned with traditional Kyrgyz motifs.
Afterwards a
coordination agreement between TOBB ETU and the Kyrgyzstan-Turkey Manas
University was signed.