01.02.2018 Ankara
TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu said that the Confidence Seal will enable shopping in a safer environment and that, “e-commerce sites with the standards set forth in the Communiqué will be able to certify that they are a safe and standards-compliant site by applying to TOBB.”
The Protocol on Confidence Seals in E-Commerce was signed with the
participation of Customs and Trade Minister Bülent Tüfenkci, TOBB President M.
Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu and Undersecretary of Customs and Commerce Cenap Aşcı.
Speaking at the ceremony, TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that
TOBB, with the received authority granted by the protocols with the Customs and
Trade Ministry, will begin issuing e-commerce sites with Confidence Seals in
Turkey.
Hisarcıklıoğlu thanked Minister Tüfenkci for his enthusiasm for
e-commerce and for giving this task to TOBB. “With this protocol, we will enter
a new phase in which e-commerce will grow much faster. Sector growth will
increase. Because the Confidence Seal will enable you to shop in a safer
environment. The e-commerce sites with the standards set forth in the Communiqué,
by applying to the TOBB, can become certified that they are a safe and
standards-compliant site.”
Reporting that the share of e-commerce in Turkey retail trade is 3.5%, Hisarcıklıoğlu
stated that this is approximately 8-9% in the world average, and the share of
e-commerce stressed that the goal is to at least double the current share.
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the Ministry of Customs and Commerce has removed
many difficulties that have come up. “With the order of the Minister, the
customs procedures in the field of goods sold abroad via e-commerce have
decreased considerably. This step is the contribute to cross-border e-commerce
and Turkey’s export target for 2023. I would like to express my appreciation to
the Minister and his colleagues for leading the development of both traditional
trade and e-commerce. With the strength and support we receive from our Minister,
we travel around Anatolia and speak about e-commerce. So far, we’ve talked in
29 provinces to 50,000 SMEs about e-commerce, and how to do it.”
The TOBB President said that they had given 2 messages especially to
SMEs: “First, not entering e-commerce is like keeping the corner shop in the
world's most crowded street closed. Second, do not complain about the growth of
e-commerce, move on to get a share of the growing cake. Thousands of different
products, on our ability to produce high quality and reasonable price, we can
add the effective use of e-commerce, Turkey will prosper much more rapidly.
E-commerce is a unique opportunity especially for the development of Anatolia.
The market reached by the SMEs in Anatolia, the SMEs in Istanbul, was equalized
by e-commerce. The growth of the market accessible to SMEs outside big cities
will also support regional development.”
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that Confidence Seal is a very important step to
expand the e-commerce market.
- Customs and Trade Minister
Tüfenkci
Customs and Trade Minister Bulent Tüfenkçi also reported that e-commerce
sector in the world and in Turkey is growing very quickly.
Tüfenkçi pointed out that electronic trade changed the traditional trade
concept by removing the geographical borders and that it is important to adapt
to a new age. Tüfenkci stated that e-commerce enterprises are the most
effective way to reach the right consumer quickly and that e-commerce
enterprises can offer more effective services at a lower cost. E-commerce has
been mentioned as a way for SMEs to take their place in the market, Tüfenkci
said: “The opportunities offered by e-commerce are more prominent when it comes
to SMEs.” Reliability for effective operation of e-commerce is an essential
condition, as 45% of consumers are concerned about privacy and security
concerns in this context, our Ministry has conducted numerous meetings with relevant
institutions and organizations and investigated the examples abroad. The ‘Communiqué
on Confidence Seal in Electronic Commerce’ we prepared was published in the
Official Gazette on June 6th, 2017, and has entered into force.”
Following the speeches, the Undersecretary of Customs and Commerce Cenap
Aşcı and TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu signed the “Confidence Seal Protocol.”