27.12.2013 Kocaeli
TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu attended the 6th 2013 Industrial Establishments Sector Performance Assessment Organization held by the Kocaeli Chamber of Industry.
Stating that
attending the ceremony has become a tradition for him and said, “Meticulous
assessments are conducted following assessments. I congratulate those receiving
awards here today. This ceremony has become a tradition for me. Kocaeli has
made it into a tradition.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu said,
“Five provinces organize this ceremony together. There is grace and prosperity
in unity; anguish in dissent. As long as that unity exists, Rifat should be
here. I am wherever unity is. The Greater Municipality Director never leaves
the private sector alone. That is what we want from our municipality directors.
Kocaeli is the apple in Turkey’s eye.”
Providing information
regarding Kocaeli and Brand Region economy, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Kocaeli is
not just a city anymore. It has come to the point of competing with countries. Turkey’s
foreign investments were at a level of 1 billion USD 12 years ago. Today, the
foreign investment volume into just Kocaeli does not fall below 1 billion USD.
Kocaeli is at the level of Turkey 12 years ago. I am also from Kocaeli. We
should recognize the worth of these lands. Every year, foreign investors line
up to invest in Kocaeli.
43 of Turkey’s top
500 companies are from Kocaeli. It has grown by 2.5 times in the last 10 years.
Headquarters of many companies operating in Kocaeli are located in İstanbul.
Add those, and the numbers go even higher. Of the second 500, the number of
companies which was only 17 10 years ago, it has reached 34 today.
You have increased
the exports from the region by 132% in 5 years, its employment by 142%. You’ve
accomplished this despite political and economic upheaval in our neighbors.
None other than you could have done this.
Kocaeli Chamber of
Industry Board Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu reported that recent developments have
caused fluctuations in the economy, stating that various projects are unable to
be implemented due to structural problems.
Kocaeli Greater
Municipality Director İbrahim Karaosmanoğlu praised industrialists, emphasizing
that their production, the taxes they pay and the employment they generate
provide means and ways for the people.
- Attendance from five provinces
Attending the award ceremony held in partnership by along with the
Kocaeli Chamber of Commerce, PWC Turkey, East Marmara ABİGEM Inc., East Marmara
Development Agency and CNN Turk;coordinated by Bolu, Düzce, Sakarya and Yalova
Chambers of Commerce and Industry were TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu,
Kocaeli Governor Ercan Topaca, Kocaeli Greater Municipality Director İbrahim
Karaosmaoğlu, Kocaeli University Vice Rector Prof. Dr. Alin Demirci, KSO Council
President Hasan Tahsin Tuğrul, Kocaeli Chamber of Commerce Council President Bülent
Karagöz, Kocaeli Chamber of Industry Board Chairman Ayhan Zeytinoğlu, Kocaeli Chamber
of Commerce Board Chairman Murat Özdağ, Gulf Commerce Chamber Board Chairman
Mustafa Efe, Sakarya, Bolu, Yalova, Düzce Chamber Presidents and industrialist.