29.11.2014 Batman
Batman Chamber of Commerce and Industry Tax Award Ceremony was held with the attendances of TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Minister of the Treasury Mehmet Şimşek and the TOBB Board Members.
During his speech, TOBB President Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu expressed their
great pride in the fact that Minister of Treasury is shown as an example of
honesty and principle and has also been elected as the minister of the treasury
of the year.
Providing information on the economic progress in Batman and TOBB’s
endeavors aimed at Batman, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the only way to prosper
and to defeat poverty is through entrepreneurship.
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Batman has everything going for it including
agriculture, industry, tourism and oil, he went on to say that once peace was
ensured in the city in 2013, tourism had flourished.
The national average rate for the opening of new establishments is 5%
while this figure is 9% reported Hisarcıklıoğlu and stated that this is a sign
of hope for the future.
Expressing that there is a great transformation underway in Batman,
Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Without peace, everyone shuts themselves away. We want
peace to rule Turkey and its surrounding region. We are all brothers. This
peace will lead us to prosperity. In peace, Batman and Turkey prosper. I am
hopeful for the future of our country. Nobody can stop us. We were behind both
Saudi Arabia and Greece in regards to economy 30 years ago; today their
economies barely add up to ours.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Countries are made strong by their economies. We
may not have oil or gas but we have a great enterprising spirit. We discovered
that with the late Turgut Özal. Turkey receives 36 million tourists. We are
among the top 6 tourism destinations in the world.”
- Minister of the Treasury Şimşek
Minister of the Treasury Mehmet Şimşek stated that Batman is closing the
distance with Turkey rapidly. Reporting that the province had exported 600,000
USD in 2002, Minister Şimşek stated that exports have increased to 90 million
USD, able to reach billions in a handful of years.
Touching on the Kurdish issue, Şimşek stated that concrete steps have
been taken towards a sustainable solution in the spirit of fraternity.
Şimşek went on to speak in regards to reforms, stability and the fight
against corruption.
Afterwards, Minister Şimşek, Hisarcıklıoğlu and the other protocol
members presented the awards for record taxpayers.