01.03.2015 Edirne
Speaking at the Kapıkule TIR Park Foundation Laying Ceremony, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that a new Kapıkule will surface following the completion of the TIR Park.
Attending the Kapıkule TIR Park Foundation Laying Ceremony were TOBB
President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, Minister of Health Mehmet Müezzinoğlu,
Customs and Tourism Enterprises (GTİ) Board Chair Arif Parmaksız, Edirne Governor
Dursun Ali Şahin, Edirne Municipality Recep Gürkan, Edirne Chamber of Commerce
and Industry Board Chair Recep Zıpkınkurt, Edirne Commodity Exchange Özay
Öztürk, Edirne Province Gendarmerie Commander Colonel Kamuran Ersan, Province
Police Director Adnan Armağan Erdoğan as well as many other state and institution
heads in addition to members of the press. Speaking at the ceremony TOBB
President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We have been working to put this into
motion since 2009. We had been unable to convince the government but a new
mentality has surfaced and thankfully today we are laying the foundations.
Hopefully, the sight before you today will have changed greatly in 4 months.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Kapıkule is the largest customs gate in the
country and the second largest in the world. In 2014, a total of 480,000 TIR
vehicles passed through here. The lines of TIRs waiting at the gates were
featured in news while our fare costs kept increasing. Our TIR drivers were
subjected to unnecessary discomfort. This situation unsuited to the age, was
not becoming of Turkey. Hopefully, this new facility will bring it to an end
and we will have a modern TIR Park with an automated system.”
- Turkey’s customs gate
customization is an example worldwide
Reporting that they’ve invested in the modernization of 7 customs gates
to this day and their investments are close to completion on many others,
Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Until today, we have invested a total of 675 million TRY
and paid 296 million TRY in taxes. Still, it is the private sector who will
ultimately benefit from this. The decrease in wait times has resulted in 410
million TRY in savings.
UN points to our custom gates modernization as exemplary.
We’ve moved up to 30th place from 39th in the
World Bank’s index and we’ve done it all without taking a single centime from
the treasury.
This is what Chambers and exchanges do. We lower the costs for our
members and allow them to move forward.”
Stating that they’ve also taken on the renovation of the Selimiye
Mosque, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that they would undertake many important duties
with the foundation they’ve established with the residents of Edirne.
Hisarcıklıoğlu extended his thanks to the Minister of Health Müezzinoğlu
for his support in all fields for the private sector.
- Minister of Health Müezzinoğlu
Minister of Health Dr. Mehmet Müezzinoğlu expressed his wishes that the
TIR Park will benefit Edirne and TIR drivers, stating that a more modern and
civilized service would take the place of the old.
- Other speakers
Customs and Tourism Enterprises (GTİ) Board Chair Arif Parmaksız
provided information in regards to the improvements made to the customs gate
and stated that the Kapıkule TIR Park would be completed in less than a year.
Edirne Governor Dursun Ali Şahir stated that, finally, Edirne would have
a modern TIR park. Stating that a TIR Park is a necessity, Şahin went on to say
that the investments of the private sector and state are like the wings of a
bird – that no flight is possible with only one.
Edirne Municipality Director Recep Gürkan stated that value would be
garnered from all gates operated by the Selimiye Foundation and GTİ.