14.07.2014 Ankara
Certificates of Honor and plaques were awarded to TOBB General Assembly Delegates who have served for 10 and 20 years during a ceremony hosted by TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu and attended by the President of the Republic of Turkey, Abdullah Gül, and Customs and Commerce Minister Hayati Yazıcı. Also attending the ceremony were Chamber and Exchange Boards and Presidents.
During his speech at the opening of the ceremony, TOBB President M.
Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu thanked President Gül and Minister Yazıcı for their
contributions to the Turkish private sector.
Stating that they put great emphasis on unity and solidarity, loyalty
and gratitude, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “In this regard, we are presenting the
various delegates who have fulfilled a certain period of time with Certificates
of Honor. A tradition in our community, this ceremony is held during the day
prior to our General Assembly in May. However, with respect to the Soma
catastrophe, we were unable to do it on the 22nd of May this year.
We delayed the ceremony and began an aid campaign instead. This campaign garnered
great support. The total of donations reaching 16.8 million TRY was presented
to the relevant public institution with the Prime Minister standing witness. I
extend my gratitude to the Chambers/Exchanges, business community and citizens
for embracing the legacy of our mining martyrs.”
- “Transformation of 30 years”
Stating that it is a truth everyone is privy to, Hisarcıklıoğlu said,
“Turkey has changed greatly in the last 30 years. The discovery of the private
sector by the late Özal as well as the reform and stability steps taken started
in during the President Abdullah Gül’s run as Prime Minister as well as
throughout the current PM Erdoğan’s run, Turkey has made great advances.
Throughout this period, the Turkish private sector showed the world what it is
capable of. The Turkish private sector proved its mettle.”
- Thanking the Certificate of
Honor recipients
Thanking the Certificate of Honor recipient business community
representatives, Hisarcıklıoğlu “They were producing long before production and
commerce were discussed in the country. They set foot on this path when there
was no prestige to being a businessman. They showed us what an honest
businessman was. They did the heavy lifting as well as taking on roles in
various capacities as a part of the TOBB community, taking on the burdens of
the private sector. They worked to open the way for the private sector without
any pay, just as anybody else in this community. Thanks to their efforts the
number of entrepreneurs has increased in Turkey. As the number of businessmen
and women increased, we became richer, our country prospered. That is how this
story of success was written.”
- Gratitude for President Gül
from the private sector
Stating that the private sector owes a great debt to the President of
the Republic of Turkey, Abdullah Gül, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu
said, “From the first day you came to office –during your Ministry, Prime
Ministry and Presidency – you brought deep change to governmental workings in
regards to the private sector. You made private sector focused economy official
policy. You’ve never withheld support and interest from our community. You are
the first President of Turkey to attend a TOBB Board Meeting.”
Extending his thanks on behalf of the Turkish private sector community
for his innumerable contributions to the development of the private sector in
Turkey, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We will strive to make this
country richer and its people more prosperous – just as we have in the past.
Allah willing, we will bring this country in among the top 10 economies of the
world. We believe that Allah dismisses no effort.”