15.01.2014 Ankara
An additional 21 chambers and commodity exchanges have attained their accreditation certificates. With the completion of 69 chambers and commodity exchanges’ work towards accreditation certification, the number of 5-star chambers will reach 221. The goal is to certify all 365 chambers and commodity exchanges.
Efforts for
accreditation of chambers and commodity exchanges are underway The Union of
Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB) with all due haste. With the 21
chambers and commodity exchanges which received their accreditation
certificates from TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, the number of 5-star
service providers has reached 152. With the completion of 69 chambers and commodity
exchanges’ work towards accreditation certification, the number of 5-star
chambers will reach 221. TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that their
goal is to certify all 365 chambers and commodity exchanges, reaching the level
of 5 star chambers and commodity exchanges.
The 9th
Term Chambers and Commodity Exchanges Accreditation Certificate Ceremony was
held at the TOBB Union Center. Speaking at the ceremony attended by the Council
and Board chairmen and members of the 221 chambers and commodity exchanges
which have been accredited or are in the process of accreditation, TOBB
President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they have always strived to lead,
to forge ahead and to blaze new paths and that the accreditation system is of
great importance in regards to the standardization of service quality.
Hisarcıklıoğlu
reported that the accredited chambers and commodity exchanges would be
considered 5 star service providers and went on, “This certificate is the
guarantee that, whatever quality of services are provided to members of
chambers and commodity exchanges found in London, Paris or Berlin, will also be
provided to the members of our chambers and commodity exchanges. When 221
chambers and exchanges receive their certificates we will have reached a
certification level of 60% of all of our chambers and commodity exchanges.”
Talking about how the
365 chambers and commodity exchanges under TOBB have come to speak English and
to develop projects, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that chambers and commodity exchanges
are churning out projects. M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “As of the end of
2012, our chambers and commodity exchanges have competed over 450 projects. Our
chambers and exchanges have used 400 million TL in grants. The number of
projects completed in 2013 is 351. We have almost surpassed the number of total
projects prior to last year in just the last year alone –during which we also
used 207 million TL in grants.”
- Chambers and commodity exchanges are forging new
paths
Providing information
regarding the activities of TOBB’s chambers and commodity exchanges,
Hisarcıklıoğlu said that chambers and exchanges have become institutions which
forge new paths and lead the way for others. Stating that they have achieved a
level wherein they have begun exporting their knowledge, the TOBB President
reported that they provide training to the secretaries general of the trade
organizations of 57 Islamic countries. Having spoken to the Kazakhstan
President Nazarbayev, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that the President has since taken
steps to implement the chambers system found in Turkey in Kazakhstan and went
on to say that the President of the Union of Commerce and Industry Chambers of
Germany said to him, “We knew the German chambers system to be the best in the
world; it seems that we have some things to learn from you.”
Stating that the
business world always focuses on the big picture, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu
said, “It is very important for the country’s economy to grow. If the economy
lacks strength, there is no prosperity for its citizens and neither is there
any weight behind the country in international matters. That is why we took
steps to open the way for our members. We forced the government to focus on the
economy because we are responsible to the masses which carry Turkey.”
Having played an
important role in bringing much needed changes to the Turkish Trade Law and
freeing private sector from a yearly burden of 6 billion TL, Hisarcıklıoğlu
said that they are working to bring about the implementation of a procedure which
will end risk associated with checks, “Companies which register with the
program via our chambers will be able to view each other’s records.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu also
reported that they have switched over to the electronic record keeping of the
trade registry as well as bring order to expos and insurance under TOBB’s roof;
TIR and ATA carnets providing assurance for exports.
Speaking at the
seminar held after lunch, TOBB Board Vice President Halim Mete stated that in
order to become accredited, chambers and commodity exchanges need to undergo 3
basic processes including training, development visits and inspections.
Also during the
seminar, TEPAV Director Güven Sak provided a brief presentation on Turkey’s and
the world’s economy.
- 9th term first time certified chambers /
exchanges
The chambers and
commodity exchanges which received their accreditation certificates for the
first time at the TOBB Union Center were:
Akhisar Commodity
Exchange, Akşehir Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Batman Chamber of Commerce
and Industry, Burdur Commodity Exchange, Bursa Commodity Exchange, Çorlu
Commodity Exchange, Erdek Chamber of Commerce, Fatsa Chamber of Commerce and
Industry, İnegöl Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Kastamonu Commodity
Exchange, Keşan Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Manisa Commodity Exchange,
Menemen Chamber of Commerce, Muğla Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Of Chamber
of Commerce and Industry, Siirt Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tarsus
Commodity Exchange, Tire Chamber of Commerce, Turgutlu Commodity Exchange, Ünye
Commodity Exchange, Yalvaç Chamber of Commerce and Industry.
- Recertified chambers / exchanges
Chambers and
Commodity exchanges which renewed their accreditation certificates were:
Adana Chamber of Industry, Çanakkale Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
Antakya Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Erzincan Chamber of Commerce and
Industry, Aydın Chamber of Commerce, Eskişehir Commodity Exchange, Balıkesir Chamber
of Commerce, Fethiye Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Bodrum Chamber of
Commerce, Giresun Commodity Exchange, Çorum Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
Isparta Commodity Exchange, Düzce Chamber of Commerce and Industry, İzmir Commodity
Exchange, Edirne Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Karacabey Commodity Exchange,
Isparta Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Karaman Commodity Exchange, Kocaeli Chamber
of Commerce, Karapınar Commodity Exchange, Kayseri Chamber of Commerce, Ereğli
( Konya ) Commodity Exchange, Malatya Chamber of Commerce and Industry,
Kuşadası Chamber of Commerce, Ordu Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mersin
Deniz Chamber of Commerce, Salihli Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Tokat Chamber
of Commerce and Industry, Van Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Çarşamba Commodity
Exchange, Aydın Commodity Exchange, Kahramanmaraş Commodity Exchange, Bandırma Chamber
of Commerce, Trabzon Commodity Exchange, Biga Commodity Exchange, Ünye Chamber
of Commerce and Industry.