17.01.2015 İstanbul
The launch of the Domestic Goods Certification took place at a press conference attended TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and the Science, Industry and Technology Minister Fikri Işık.
TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that a new era is breaking
for Turkey and industrialists. Industrialists have complained that the public
administration has failed to support or prioritize domestic companies in its
tenders.
Stating that even developed countries promote production in their own
countries, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “In these cases public administration will give
preference to domestic companies and goods despite higher prices. That way,
they ensure that their SMEs grow. The biggest problem SMEs have is that they
are unable to gain a foothold in the market.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they’ve been lagging behind in this regard,
said, “We greet foreign companies with open arms, supporting foreign companies
instead of our own SMEs. If we continue like this, tomorrow’s global giants
will not be from among Anatolian SMEs. We’ll keep complaining about our
dependence on imports in regards to industry and exports.”
Drawing attention to the importance of SMEs for the economy, the TOBB
President reported that SMEs conduct 59% of exports and 40% of imports;
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that SMEs have the solution to foreign trade deficit.
Stating that 15% price advantage in public tenders for domestic
production was passed in 2002, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Various bureaucratic
difficulties has not been able to be implemented. Three Prime Ministry memorandums
have been circulated. However, in 93% of public tenders, this procedure was not
followed. In order to overcome the difficulties we’ve encountered and to
support domestic production, we’ve undertaken a very important endeavor under
the leadership of Minister Işık.
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they would be able to calculate the degree to
which a product had been produced domestically and that industrial goods must
be a least 51% domestically produced in order to be considered domestic
products.
Providing information in regards to the process for acquiring Domestic
Goods Certification, Hisarcıklıoğlu went on, “The company will first appoint a
certified public accountant and financial adjuster. Afterwards, in accordance
with the Accounts Log of the Ministry, the domestic contribution percentage
will be calculated. This will be ratified by a technical expert and accountant
in regards to finances. The relevant chamber/exchange will check the sum of
information and documentation. If satisfied it will prepare the Domestic
Product Certificate and present it to the company.”
Reporting that the 15% price advantage for domestic goods would be used
more actively, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that this would enable the identification of
mid- and high-tech goods and support them instead of randomly investing.
Stating that this would provide new opportunities to further develop
both the national industry and SMEs, Hisarcıklıoğlu stressed that the way to
decrease foreign trade deficit, robust and stable growth is through
strengthening of SMEs and industry.
- Science, Industry and
Technology Minister Fikri Işık
Science, Industry and Technology Minister Fikri Işık stated that
Turkey’s vision is to create a high income economy and that, in order to
achieve this, developing industry able to produce mid- and high-tech products
is imperative.
Minister Işık provided information in regards to the public acquisitions,
public tenders and their work to facilitate the processes in line with the
Domestic Goods Citation.
Işık stated that they view 2015 as a year in which Turkey can gain
ground, pointing out that they put great importance domesticity percentage.
Following the opening speeches, Eczacıbaşı – Baxter Hospital Products
Industry and Trade LLC, Factory Director Ali Doğan Bürge was given the Domestic
Product Certificate.