30.12.2015 Eskişehir
Organized by the Eskişehir Chamber of Commerce, Chamber of Industry and Commodity Exchange, the Eskişehir Economy Convention was held with the attendance of TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu.
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Eskişehir is a city of agriculture, industry
and high technology, stating that it is also the second most habitable city in
Turkey.
Drawing attention to Eskişehir’s significance in regards to the
education sector as well, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “Eskişehir is Turkey’s heart in
terms of aviation and railed systems. Eskişehir is one of the most prominent
cities in terms of exports. Eskişehir sells most of its exports to the USA and
the EU. It’s not easy to sell goods to prosperous countries. Eskişehir has an
industry which competes on the global arena.”
Touching on the issue of minimum wage which is very prominent in
Turkey’s mind at present, Hisarcıklıoğlu drew attention to the fact that they
are not opposed to a higher minimum wage.
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that there are various issues affecting employers
as well, “At the moment, I’m paying my employees 1,500TRY, but only 1,000TRY
goes into their pockets. Why would I object to another 300TRY going into my
employee’s pocket? Them earning more means they will also be spending more.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Turkey is the top country in the world for the
amount of burdens placed on an employer for employing people. “All that we want
is to compete on equal footing with our global competitors.”
Also touching on the issue of stamp tax, Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that this
is a tax unheard of anywhere else in the world and urged that it be revoked.
TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu touched on the fact that machinery
investment levels are below those seen in 2011 in regards to the investment
incentives.
Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “It is evident that incentives must be reorganized
with regards to sectors on a provincial and county basis. It should also be
structured in such a way so as not to provide unfair advantage to those already
in production. This is necessary for a new incentive model. Regions must
diversify. You can’t just give all regions the same incentives. That is the
reason we have three times the capacity for grinding wheat as we have actually
producing wheat. This is wasteful. These resources belong to us all
collectively.”
- Eskişehir Governor Tuna
Eskişehir Governor Güngör Azim Tuna stated that Eskişehir, the home of
Turkey’s first heavy industry establishment, has potential for great leaps
head.
Tuna stressed the importance of such issues as automotive, textile,
furniture, food, machinery, metals, ceramics, aerospace, rail systems, marble
and construction, employment, exports and added value in order to achieve the
country’s goals for 2023.
- Other speakers
Eskişehir Chamber of Commerce Chair Metin Güler, Eskişehir Chamber of
Industry Chair Savaş Özaydemir and Eskişehir Commodity Exchange Chair Ömer Zeydan
provided information regarding the efforts and endeavors of their respective
chambers/exchange.
Also attending the meeting were Eskişehir PMs Harun Karacan and Utku
Çakırözer, TOBB Board Treasurer Faik Yavuz, GTİ Co. Inc. Chair Arif Parmaksız,
TOBB ETU Hospital Chair Şadan Eren, Anatolian University Rector Prof. Dr. Naci
Gündoğan and Eskişehir Osmangazi University Rector Prof. Dr. Hasan Gönen as
well as many guests.