30.12.2015 Bilecik
TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “I urge all residents of Bilecik: Raise your daughters as entrepreneurs. I look at this hall and see not nearly enough women entrepreneurs. Please raise your daughters as entrepreneurs.”
Attending the 111th anniversary of the foundation of the
Bilecik Chamber of Commerce and Industry and the Economy Stars of Bilecik Award
Ceremony, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu expressed his excitement in visiting
Bilecik.
Drawing attention to the spiritual air of Bilecik, Hisarcıklıoğlu said,
“Sheikh Edebali adds an air of spirituality. We visited it again today. The
Monuments Council has given its permission for an elevator to be built there in
order to aid the visits of the elderly.”
Stating that Bilecik TSO has the right vision, Hisarcıklıoğlu said that
boosting the morale of entrepreneurs would allow them to be role models for women
and the youth.
Touching on the importance of enterprise on the path to prosperity
Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “I urge all residents of Bilecik: Raise your daughters as
entrepreneurs. I look at this hall and see not nearly enough women
entrepreneurs. Please raise your daughters as entrepreneurs. There is a very
bad habit of wanting our daughters to go to the best university then to just
find a husband and stay at home. This is wrong, my country needs entrepreneurs.
The ratio of women entrepreneurs were 5% when I came into office, we’ve only
forced it up to 7% through hard work.”
Speaking in regards to the minimum wage changes, Hisarcıklıoğlu drew
attention to the fact that they are not opposed to a higher minimum wage, “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. Talks are still underway.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “What I see before me as someone who has been to
all 81 provinces is that cities united in solidarity succeed. That is what I
see in this province.” Praising the modern production mentality displayed by
Bilecik and the hard work of the Bilecik TSO, Hisarcıklıoğlu also pointed out
Bilecik’s loyalty to its history, “One of the oldest chambers and today, we are
celebrating its 111th anniversary.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Bilecik TSO Chair Fevzi Uzun stands behind
Bilecik’s industrialists in Ankara and that all of Bilecik’s demands have been
relayed to the President of the Republic of Turkey. Reporting that many of
these requests are underway to being fulfilled, Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “I would
like to congratulate those of you who have been elected to receive awards.”
Bilecik Governor Ahmet Hamdi Nayir also gave a speech, emphasizing
Bilecik’s strength in the face of adversity.
Attending the ceremony alongside Hisarcıklıoğlu were Bilecik Governor
Ahmet Hamdi Nayir, Eskişehir PMs Harun Karacan and Yaşar Tüzün, TOBB Board
Treasurer Faik Yavuz, GTİ Co. Inc. Board Chair Arif Parmaksız and TOBB ETU
Hospital Board Chair Şadan Eren, Bilecik Deputy Mayor Nihat Can, Bilecik Sheikh
Edebali University Rector Prof. Dr. Azmi Özcan as well as mayors and council
members from neighboring counties.