12.10.2016 Brussels / Belgium

In his address at the “Developing Competitiveness of SMEs in Turkey and the Western Balkans” Conference held by TOBB and EUROCHAMBRES in Brussels, TOBB President and EUROCHAMBRES Vice President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized the importance of SMEs in establishing peace and prosperity in a country.

The meeting which took place at the TOBB Brussels Office with the attendances of representatives of the business communities of Turkey and EUROCHAMBRES member states, the subject of “EU Expansion: Opportunities for SME Competitiveness,” was discussed during two separate panels. Business community representatives and representatives of EU institutions exchanged their views on the subject.

Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized the importance of SMEs in establishing peace and prosperity in a country as well as the importance of the business environment with regards to direct foreign investment during his speech.

Hisarcıklıoğlu underlined the success of migrants in developing and implementing creative business ideas, pointing to successes of Turkish businesses in Germany.

Panels on the EU Slovakia Presidential Term as well as the efforts of TOBB, Serbia, Kosovo and Albanian Chamber Organizations’ in regards to SME and Entrepreneurship were also held.

Attending the conference were TOBB Board Members Salih Zeki Murzioğlu and Hakan Ülken as well as Isparta CCI Chair Şükrü Başdeğirmen, Bolu CCI Chair Türker Ateş, Bafra CCI Chair and TOBB EU Harmonization Commission Chair Göksel Başer.