10.06.2015 Torino
Speaking at the Congress of the World Chambers Federation which represents 12,000 chambers of commerce and industry, B20 Turkey Chair and TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that SMEs are the only way to sustain growth, urging all chamber presidents to act with this in mind.
Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that SMEs have always been on the losing end of
all reforms implemented since the 2008 crisis, declaring that Turkey is working
to turn this around during its term as chair of the B20.
The 9th Congress of the World Chambers Federation (WCF) which
represents 12,000 chambers of commerce and industry was held in Torino, Italy.
Speaking at the Congress attended by thousands of chambers and entrepreneurs
from 110 countries, B20 Turkey Chair and TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu
spoke to the attendees about Turkey’s G20 and B20 priorities as well as
Turkey’s economy.
- Call to be more active in
regards to SMEs
Stating that chambers of commerce, essentially the representatives of
SMEs all over the world, need to be more involved in global policy creation, M.
Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Fortune stands at our door this year, Turkey stands
firm behind SMEs as G20 Term Chair.”
Urging all chamber presidents to act, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “As long as
chambers exist, SMEs won’t be left to fend for themselves. We’ve been unable to
generate growth since the 2008 global crisis. We’ve been unable to balance
growth. Whenever a region of the world pulls itself together, other parts start
to fail. In order to balance growth and make it sustainable, we must fire up
the SMEs.”
- 2015 is the year of the SMEs
Stating that the G20 has accomplished great endeavors in order to pull
the global economy from the brink since the 2008, Hisarcıklıoğlu said,
“Unfortunately, SMEs have been forgotten. SMEs have always been on the losing
end of all reforms implemented since the 2008 crisis. We have a chance to turn
this around during Turkey’s term as chair of the G20. To this end, we’ve
established the World SME Forum as TOBB in cooperation with the ICC and WCF. It
is within our power to make this the year of the SMEs.”