31.05.2015 İstanbul
Aiming to make İstanbul into one of the centers of attraction globally, the İTO Awards were held at the Çırağan Palace with the attendance of the President of the Republic of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
In reference to İstanbul being “the City of Seven Hills”, individuals,
organizations and institutions were awarded for their successes in seven categories
ranging from economy, culture-arts, science and social responsibility to
investment, branding and urbanism.
Speaking at the ceremony, TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that it shows both vision and loyalty for İstanbul to be award success, having
itself become a global brand.
Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “This is only befitting of our community which strives
to preserve its heritage. I would like to thank everyone involved.”
Stating that the business community knows history well, Hisarcıklıoğlu
said, that the economic crisis of 14 years prior cost the business community
dearly.
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they appreciate the value of stability
enjoyed today all the more so because of that and went on, “The President of
the Republic, during his time as Prime Minister, was instrumental in the
implementation of many reforms which opened the way for the private sector to
bring us where we are today.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that the private sector has invested 176 billion
TRY in machinery last year, providing employment for 1.2 million new people,
resulting in the success of many sectors.
Reporting that they a4re 7th in the world in terms of
agricultural income; 35.9 million tourists were hosted last year, putting us at
the 6th most preferred tourist destination in the world,
Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “We are the second largest construction sector in the world
after China. We’ve achieved many successes which I can’t list fully here. We
achieved all this with the endeavors of the members of our community all over
the world. I would like to thank all the members of the Turkish business
community for their contributions to the country’s development.”