21.04.2015 Ankara
Representatives of 60 sectors met with Prime Minister Davutoğlu and various other Ministers at the 8th Turkey Sector Economy Summit held at TOBB. TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu hosted the Summit wherein sectors underwent a check-up. Problems and proposals were clearly set forth.
Giving the opening speech of the Summit, the Union of Chambers and
Commodity Exchanges of Turkey (TOBB) President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said,
“The detailed dialogue mechanism we’ve established between public and private
sectors enables finding common cause and empathy between the private and public
administration.”
During his speech at the 8th Turkey Sector Economy Summit
held at the TOBB Twin Towers, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the decision passed by
the European Parliament in regards to the allegations of genocide by Armenians
has been a source of great disappointment. Stressing that the decision is
contrary to historical fact and will be a source of shame for European history
and politics, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “It is my hope that officials in Europe come
to recognize the fact that history is not written at the table one day.”
- “Sector councils act as
arbitration mechanisms”
Stating that the Summit is the largest and most comprehensive which
brings all sectors in Turkey together, Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that sector
councils are comprised of the 40 largest companies in a given sector.
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they are able to keep a close eye on all sectors
this way. Reporting that a public administration representative relevant to the
council is also present as a permanent member of all councils, Hisarcıklıoğlu
said, “This way, Turkey sector councils act as sector and arbitration
mechanisms which relays the results and findings to problems it discusses
together as the public and private sectors directly to the public
administration.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu drew attention to the importance of the duties of the
sector council chairpersons and members who compete in their businesses as well
as representing their sectors.
Reporting that all problems and solution proposals mentioned will be
distributed to the relevant ministries and institutions, Hisarcıklıoğlu said,
“I believe that the valued work of our dear friends will bring new momentum to
the cooperation between public and private sectors, supporting the growth of
the economy.”
Pointing out that the various issues they brought up during previous
sector summits have resulted in the growth of the real sector through concrete
steps and solid progress by the government, Hisarcıklıoğlu gave examples such
as the VAT reduction in textiles, pharmaceuticals and tourism; incentives in
the fields of maritime trade and tourism; the removal of the Resource
Utilization Incentive Fund as well as the new opportunities given to SMEs and
employment subsidies.
Stating that, despite all of these, all issues have yet to be resolved,
Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Of course there are problems, and will always be present
but they are not insurmountable. More importantly, we have the chance to more
easily overcome these obstacles. The detailed dialogue mechanism we’ve
established between public and private sectors enables finding common cause and
empathy between the private and public administration. Entrepreneurs who see
that they can relay their problems to find solutions have changed their views.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu thanked the Prime Minister Ahmet Davutoğlu and the
ministers who attended the summit.
Attending the summit were Minister of the Treasury Mehmet Şimşek,
Transport, Maritime Affairs and Communications Minister Feridun Bilgin, Economy
Bakanı Nihat Zeybekci, Labor and Social Security Minister Faruk Çelik, Food,
Agriculture and Livestock Minister Mehdi Eker, Forestry and Water Affairs
Minister Veysel Eroğlu, Minister of National Defence İsmet Yılmaz, Customs and
Trade Minister Nurettin Canikli and the Science, Industry and Technology
Minister Fikri Işık.