23.05.2015 Kırıkkale
Kırıkkale Chamber of Commerce and Industry’s new service building was opened with the attendances of TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu, former Deputy Minister Beşir Atalay, TOBB Board Treasurer Faik Yavuz, TOBB Board Member Şahin Bilgiç, Kırıkkale Ali Kolat, Kırıkkale Mayor Mehmet Saygılı and many guests.
TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated in his speech that
everyone should think differently and, through consultation, combine these
thoughts into common cause.
Stating that he has been to every part of Turkey, Hisarcıklıoğlu said,
“Allah has given us soil and water. Water is a great boon. You could have all
the soil you want but it is useless without water. Allah has granted us both
the Kızılırmak River and 66% arable land ratio.”
Pointing out that the first instances of industrialization also took
place in Kırıkkale, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Turkey’s first
Organized Industry Zone Specialized in Firearms has been established here, with
35 of its 65 parcels already sold. This is a first in Turkey; and quite right
that it is so. Kırıkkale is 11th among Turkey’s 81 provinces in
terms of habitability. This shows that Kırıkkale is a place of peace, trust and
mutual respect among people.”
Reporting that Kayseri has access to a market valued at 77 billion TRY
in just 3 hours of travel, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Kırıkkale has access to a
market valued at 181 billion TRY in the same time, which, he stressed is a great
advantage.
Drawing attention to the fact that arms manufacture is in the top
segment of technology in the world, the TOBB President said, “It brooks no
mistakes. You may be allowed a mistake here and there in sugar production but
this isn’t the case in arms manufacture. Masters learning their craft in the
top segment are those individuals honing their skills at the Machinery and
Chemicals Industry Institution. We must make use of this potential.”
Stating that, according to the comparisons between 2013 and 2014 in
regards to the statistics of newly created companies, Turkey stands in the top
16%, Hisarcıklıoğlu went on, “This rate is 69% in Kırıkkale. This is a measure
of economic liveliness almost 5 times that of the national average. In terms of
exports during the same period, Kırıkkale increased its exports by 16% while
Turkey was only at 4%. The number of registered employees between January 2014
and January 2015 increased by 5% in Turkey on average in total while the
increase in Kırıkkale was 14%. These are all indicators of Kırıkkale’s dynamism
and activity.”
Stating that TOBB ETU is the third most preferred university nationally,
Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that they have initiated talks with YÖK in order to
open the faculty promised in Kırıkkale.
- Former Deputy Prime Minister
Atalay
Former Deputy Prime Minister Beşir Atalay stated that TOBB president
Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu is an important profile for Turkey.
Stating that his contributions to Turkey are well known, Atalay said,
“TOBB has become a great institution which contributes to the country for the
first time instead becoming mired in meaningless discussion. We are all witness
to this.”