28.02.2015 Karaman
Karaman Province Chamber/Exchange Joint Meeting was held with the attendances of TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and the Minister for Transportation, Maritime Affairs and Communications Lütfi Elvan at the Karaman TSO.
TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they’ve come to Karaman for
propitious works having presented the deeds of the houses to the families of
the workers who lost their lives in the Ermenek mining accident as well as
conducting the opening of the science high school in Karaman, saying “We’ve
named the school the Karaman TOBB Lütfi Elvan Science High School in
recognition of Minister Elvan’s contributions.”
Emphasizing that the historian İlber Ortaylı best describes Karaman,
Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Ortaylı called Karaman a font of humanity. The spiritual
architect of the Ottoman Empire Sheikh Edebali, Yunus Emre, Karamanoğlu Mehmet
Bey, Piri Reis and one of the Independence War Generals, Kazım Karabekir have
come from Karaman. Atatürk’s mother was from Karaman. Karaman holds such import
for the people it has produced for Turkish history.”
Thanking Minister Elvan, Hisarcıklıoğlu went on, “Lütfi Elvan is a great
opportunity for Karaman. I’ve known him since he was a bureaucrat. He has a
great vision. He is beyond the constraints of bureaucratic mentality. Focused
on solution and projects, he has stood by the private sector. He has taken on
one of the most important ministries, both in terms of budget as well as
organization. He has stepped into the role as if he has been doing it for
years. He has never neglected his home while working for Turkey.”
Touching on the importance of unity and solidarity, Hisarcıklıoğlu said,
“We have a saying, ‘Grace and prosperity in unity; anguish in dissent.’ The
hearts of MPs, governor, municipality director, chamber and exchange presidents
all beat unison when the matter is Karaman.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu, emphasizing that Karaman has a great advantage, said, “A
third of biscuit production, 20% of cracked wheat production, 20% of beans, 18%
of apple comes from Karaman. Karaman is doing it right. It is a leader in
certified apple trees. We are exporting to 165 countries. It has also been
determined to be one of the most suitable areas for solar energy. It enjoys the
highest class of province incentives. It is 18th in the most
habitable provinces index of Turkey. The risk of earthquake is zero. How can
there be anything but investment and production in such a province.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that Karaman is above Turkey’s average in use of
manufacturing capacity with 88%, having the lowest unemployment rate with 4.2%.
Reporting that Karaman is third in Turkey in the UMEM Ability’10
project, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that it provides 1,410 people with employment
with a job placement rate of 97%.
- Hisarcıklıoğlu visited the Zade
oil factory
Following his programs in Karaman, TOBB President M. Rifat
Hisarcıklıoğlu moved on to Konya. Hisarcıklıoğlu and his delegation toured the
Zade oil factory in the Konya OIZ, receiving information on the new parts of
the factory.