05.03.2018 Yenişehir / Bursa
Speaking at the award ceremony of the Bursa Yenişehir Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Yenişehir CCI), TOBB President M. Rifat Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that the problems can only be solved through unity and solidarity and that Yenişehir has become a gate to Anatolia and Europe for Bursa.
Hisarcıklıoğlu, in regards to soldiers martyred in Operation Olive
Branch in Afrin, prayed for the grace of Allah upon the fallen. Hisarcıklıoğlu,
stating that Yenişehir is the place where the Ottoman Empire converted from the
emirate to the state, said, “The founding of the Ottoman Empire was declared
here, and the first sermon was read. Osman Gazi mindted the first Ottoman coin
here. The first edict was declared here; the regular army gathered here. Today,
Yenişehir is also home to many important industrial facilities with its rapidly
expanding economy as well as fertile lands suitable for agriculture. Airport,
high speed train, proximity to Gemlik Harbor are great advantages for
Yenişehir. The İstanbul-İzmir Motorway project is also very important for this.
Yenişehir is Bursa’s gate to Anatolia and Europe.” Describing the
characteristics of the Yenişehir economy, Hisarcıklıoğlu emphasized that two
thirds of the land is suitable for agriculture. Hisarcıklıoğlu said, “For all
these reasons, it is also a new avenue for investors, suitable for both
agricultural, residential and industrial investments. Land and housing prices
are rising. The Automotive Testing Center is also set up here. This is very
important, because it is not enough to design and produce. You need to test it
and confirm it. Therefore, in the domestic car project, the Automotive Testing
Center will be needed. Yenişehir is rapidly moving towards becoming one of the
most important centers of attractions of Bursa.”
- Yenişehir CCI working for its members
Hisarcıklıoğlu said that Yenişehir CCI has undertaken very important
projects for the city, “By making a cooperation protocol with KOSGEB, service was
brought to its members and free trainings were organized. Yenişehir CCI has been
incorporated the into the European Business Network Project. Development of
entrepreneurial culture in Yenişehir has been bolstered with the courses
organized by the CCI. We are also making 2 major innovations in all the
Chambers together with Yenisehir CCI. You can now get documents you need from
your home, your office, without having to come to chamber. We have passed the
Digital Transformation. Chambers are now online. The second one is a one-stop-office
project for company establishments. All setup operations will take place in our
Chambers. We reduced the number of transactions from 7 to 1. We reduced the
cost from 2,250TRY in advance to 650TRY. That is how service is brought to members.
Our Chambers make such investments for the future of the city. Our chamber is
working for the development and enrichment of Yenişehir. I have seen this both
in Ankara and here. From the Chairman, to Management, from the Council to the
Secretary General, from the Academic Advisor to all of your employees, I thank
you all. The chambers listen carefully to the community, pinpoint problems and
together, seek solutions.”
- What was accomplished last
year?
Hisarcıklıoğlu, in regards to what TOBB and the chambers community has
been doing in the for the past year, underlined that they are doing very
important things in financing. Stressing that that they provided 8 billion TRY
to 290,000 companies with 9.9% interest under the Respite Credits,
Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that KOSGEB also provided loans to 290,000 companies with
a 0-interest, 3-year maturity and that as Credit Guarantee Fund, they are
guarantors for 364,000 companies for 221 billion TRY. TOBB President
Hisarcıklıoğlu reported that a total of 681,000 companies were reached in
Turkey, with 234bn TRY provided in finances.
Hisarcıklıoğlu pointed out that the cost employment is the most
important complaint of the business world, and thanks to the mobilization of
employment initiated to this end, the Turkish private sector has provided 1.5
million additional jobs. The TOBB President also said that Bursa kept its word
and provided additional 1.3 employment people per company. Hisarcıklıoğlu underlined
the importance of incentives provided as a part of the employment mobilization.
“The monthly minimum wage support of 100 TL will continue in 2018. When you
hire someone, new premium and tax is covered by the state. You will only pay
salary. So 1,600 TL is from you, 800 TL is tax + premium. Incentives will be in
full force for 3 years. In the meantime, remember to request your retroactive
incentives.”
As a part of the Industry-First Reform Package, the 2% TRT tax, OIZ property
tax and stamp tax have been, amount to a total of 1 billion TRY in costs saved
for the business community. Hisarcıklıoğlu stated that under the leadership of President
Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the Turkish business community has undertaken the task of
producing the.
Hisarcıklıoğlu said: “At our 73rd General Assembly, the
President of the Republic of Turkey call upon us, to find the brave
entrepreneurs among TOBB to build the domestic car. We said ‘If you stand with
us, we will do it.’ We’ve been working busily with the Minister of Industry to
be ready to reveal the 5 braves. We announced them together with our President.
Now the provinces are competing to have the factory set up there. This will be
decided according to feasibility results. I hope the first prototype will
emerge in 2019. In 2021, commercial sales will also begin.”
- “What we’ve done since the
beginning of 2018”
TOBB President explaining that they are doing extensive studies in the
Coordination Council for Improvement of Investment Environment with the
Ministers in regards to the issues reported by the business community, “We are among
the world's 20 largest economies, but we rank 60th in ease of
business index. Why don’t people want to be entrepreneurs? There are many
obstacles to doing business. We met with our government. You will see, in 2
years Turkey will be among the top 20 countries in ease of business index. The
law which was passed yesterday was revolutionary for us. There 59 countries
with easier company establishment, execution, bankruptcy, construction permits,
title deeds, municipal applications, tax payments than us. Hopefully this will
be the law to bring Turkey into the top 20. We will no longer have to wait on the
government regarding VAT returns. 140 billion TRY will be paid to us in a
certain schedule. We will be able request what we are owed from the government within
3 months from the day of the announcement the legislation. If not, the government
will pay interest. This is a good deal for us. But first of all applaud our
MPs. We will put our country among the top 10 economies.
Are there no problems at all? Of course there are. But we have the will
and the power to overcome all of them. Look, we've made a lot of improvements
by acting in unity and solidarity. Problems are not solved by fighting. It is
solved by dialogue and common cause. Grace and prosperity in unity; anguish in
dissent. I am deeply convinced that you will have an election process worthy of
my community in April. The election will end and the winner as well as their
competition will work together shoulder to shoulder again; Yenişehir should
work together.”
- School promise
TOBB President Hisarcıklıoğlu responded positively to the school request
of Yenişehir, stating that they want to build schools in all counties once the 81
schools in 81 provinces project is completed.