26.11.2015 Kocaeli

TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu visited the Kocaeli Chamber of Commerce and met with its council members.

Expressing his joy in visiting Kocaeli, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Kocaeli always cheers him up.

Emphasizing Kocaeli’s dynamism, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Kocaeli actively draws people from other cities; a clear sign of economic liveliness.

Addressing the issues which residents of Kocaeli complain the most about, Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed to the Guarantee Fund as a financial tool and QR coded cheques to combat difficulties in collecting debt.

Speaking in regards to increase of the minimum wage to 1,300 TRY, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that they are not opposed to this as long as the cost does not burden the private sector; stressing the need to lessen the cost of employing people, which is already high.

Hisarcıklıoğlu also talked on the matters of vocational training being handed over to the private sector, interconnecting ports and OIZs as well as the need to focus firmly on reforms now that the elections are behind us.

Also attending the meeting in addition to TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu were TOBB Board Vice President Halim Mete, Kocaeli Chamber of Commerce Board Chairman  Murat Özdağ, Kocaeli Chamber of Commerce Council Chairman Bülent Karagöz and Sakarya Chamber of Commerce and Industry Board Chairman Mahmut Kösemusul.