09.02.2017 Konya
TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Konya entrepreneurs have turned the Konya breadbasket into a center of modern agriculture and seed production as well as one of Turkey's biggest commerce cities.
Konya Economy Awards
Ceremony was held at the Konya Chamber of Commerce with the participation of
the Minister of Customs and Commerce Bülent Tüfenkci and TOBB President M.
Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu.
Hisarcıklıoğlu
thanked Minister Tüfenkci and said, “A minister from within our very own
community. He is more of a host than all of us. He has been a patron to our
community from the day he took office. The consultative spirit of our Prophet
(PBUH) has been wholly embraced by the Minister. He consults with our community
on all issues. He is one of the greatest architects of the reforms which have
been enacted with the direction of our community. He is closely monitoring the
issues of the business community.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
congratulated companies receiving awards, “I congratulate the entire Konya
business community. They’ve done a great job. Twenty years ago, Konya was known
as ‘Turkey's breadbasket,” an agricultural city. In just 20-30 years you’ve
made Konya the center of modern agriculture and seed production. You are one of
the biggest commerce cities in Turkey. You’ve made an industrial city exporting
1.3 billion USD. You’ve made a tourist city which hosts 2.5 million tourists.
You’ve elevated education with 4 universities.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that Konya is listed as one of the 500 most important cities in the world
economy, as it is an exemplary city in the world with its economy and urbanism
- not just Turkey.
Reminding that Konya
is now targeting a 15 billion USD exports and 10 million visitors goal, the TOBB
President emphasized that Konya will attain its targets soon.
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated
that the most cited complaint is about the tax burden on employment, explaining
that President Erdoğan made a statement on this issue and said, “Hire an
additional person; tax and SSI premium will be provided by the state. Pay the
employee's net wage, the state takes care of the rest. The second is on-the-job
training. Hire the unemployed. Salary insurance from state. There is no
employment condition after job training. But if you employ them for 42 months
insurance employer does not pay premiums.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu
reminded that TOBB and the chambers/exchanges have started work in regards to
access to finance for companies, “There is cash stagnation in the market, high
interest rates cut off the private sector’s breath. We achieved a first in the
world. Our president said, “You have innovated in finance.’ TOBB and its
Chamber-Exchanges have mobilized all resources; Ziraat Bank - Deniz Bank provide
credit with an annual interest rate of 0.90% and 0.83 per month; 150 thousand
TL in credit. KGF is also vouching for 85%.”
Emphasizing that
Turkey is hopeful for the future, Hisarcıklıoğlu continued: “Today PKK, FETO, Daesh
are attacking all at once. They are also attacking our economy. But they have not
succeed and will not succeed. Turkey does not have oil or natural gas. But we
have two things. One: Our love for our country. Two: Our entrepreneurial
spirit. Nobody can bring this nation to kneel. The only thing we request of the
state is that you open the way for us with reforms. When these are done, Turkey
will be among the top 10 economies of the world.”
- Customs and Commerce Minister Tüfenkci
Customs and Commerce Minister
Bülent Tüfenkci said that Turkey continued its journey despite all bad
experiences.
Tüfenkci emphasized
that Turkey can increase the level of prosperity as much as it can benefit from
the world's prosperity.
Reminding that
they’ve made many arrangements at for eliminating the financial needs of the
business world, Tüfenkci reporting that the credit guarantee fund represents a
collateral system with credit guarantee fund of 250 billion TRY.
After their speeches,
successful business owners received their awards.
- National Employment Mobilization Begins
Following the award
ceremony, Customs and Commerce Minister Bülent Tüfenkci and TOBB President M.
Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu attended the “National Employment Mobilization Start”
program held at the Konya Commodity Exchange.
Speaking there, Minister
Tüfenkci said that employment mobilization efforts will make Konya one of the
leading industrial cities of Anatolia.